Vol. 520 No. 5
154 Mr. R. Bruton asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage Gaeltacht and the Islands if her attention has been drawn to the concerns of the National Association for Deaf People that RTE have failed to provide subtitling for the main evening news, and frequently are not broadcasting text where it is actually available to them on certain imported programming. [16223/00]
Under current broadcasting legislation, subtitling of programmes is a matter for broadcasters. However, section 15 of the Broadcasting Bill, 1999, if enacted, will oblige the Independent Radio and Television Commission to be renamed the Broadcasting Commission of Ireland to make rules requiring all broadcasters, including RTE, to take specific steps to promote the understanding and enjoyment of programmes by persons who are deaf or hard of hearing and persons who are blind or partially sighted. Such rules may include an obligation with regard to the provision of subtitles and sign language usage but this will be a matter for the new commission.
