Vol. 554 No. 5
825 Mr. Naughten asked the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources in view of the decision by RTE to ban Power to Change advertisements, his plans to amend the Broadcasting Act, 2001, to address this matter; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16804/02]
Section 20(4) of the Broadcasting Authority Act, 1960, provides that the RTE Authority shall not accept any advertisement which is directed towards any religious or political end or has any relation to any industrial dispute. Section 10(3) of the Radio and Television Act, 1988, mirrors the provision in the 1960 Act and prohibits TV3 from accepting religious advertising. Section 65 of the Broadcasting Act, 2001, clarifies that the ban on religious advertising does not prevent broadcasters from carrying a factual advertisement that a particular religious publication is for sale or that a particular religious event or ceremony will take place. I have recently asked my Department to review the legislative provisions concerned with a view to determine whether a basis exists for consider ation of amendments in the light of changes in Irish society and culture.
