Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 19 October 2011
21 Deputy Niall Collins asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the cost to RTÉ of ending its practice of share dealing; if it will have an impact on the television licence fee; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30095/11]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs the Deputy will be aware, the Competition Authority was established under the Competition Act 2002 and is independent in the exercise of its functions in accordance with section 29(3) of that Act. In addition, RTÉ is also a statutory body, established under the Broadcasting Act 2009, and its independence is provided for under section 98 of that Act. As such, the details of any agreement reached between the Competition Authority and RTÉ in regard to the issues referred to in the question are matters for the two bodies concerned.
That said, I am aware from press reports that RTÉ has entered into certain undertakings with the Competition Authority to address the concerns the Authority had expressed and that, as part of these, RTÉ is to put in place a new advertising trading system in mid-2012 to replace the system that currently operates.
The cost to RTÉ, if any, of implementing such a change of system is a matter for the company in accordance with the provisions of section 108(1) of the Broadcasting Act regarding the company's pursuance of its specific object in relation to the exploitation of commercial opportunities.
In regard to the question of any impact on the level of the TV Licence fee, it is important to understand that, in the case of RTÉ, the TV Licence fee is designed to support the achievement of the company's public service objects, as set out in section 114 of the Broadcasting Act 2009, and is not a mechanism for offsetting changes in commercial income.
