Vol. 560 No. 1
139 Mr. Broughan asked the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources his plans for the implementation of the programme for fundamental reform of public sector broadcasting, announced by him on 11 December 2002; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1805/03]
The comprehensive programme of measures that I announced last December will result in a fundamental reform of public service broadcasting in Ireland. Some of these measures will be implemented in the immediate future while others will take a little longer. For example, I will shortly initiate a public consultation on a draft charter for RTE and RTE's statement of commitments and change management commitments for the current year will be agreed. In the first quarter of this year RTE are committed to finalising its new code of fair trading practice and to the appointment of a process auditor to its independent production unit. By the middle of the year RTE will have established an audience council.
New legislation will be necessary to give effect to the decision to establish the Broadcasting Authority of Ireland as the single content regulator, to establish the special fund for public service broadcasting and to the establish RTE as a commercial state company. Work has already commenced in this regard.
