Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 24 July 2018
2098. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the discretion he has in the imposition of a levy for a broadcaster whose base year qualifying income is more than €250,000 pursuant to section 33 of the Broadcasting Act 2009 and S.I. No. 7 of 2010; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34636/18]
Amharc ar fhreagra2099. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment his views on section 33 of the Broadcasting Act 2009 and S.I. No. 7 of 2010, in view of the fact the income on which the levy is calculated is grant income; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34638/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 2098 and 2099 together.
The Broadcasting Act 2009 provided for the establishment of the Broadcasting Authority of Ireland (BAI) as the independent regulator responsible for oversight of compliance in relation to broadcasting content in the State.
Section 33 of the Broadcasting Act 2009 provides for the making of a levy order by the BAI for the purposes of meeting the expenses of the Authority and its Committees in undertaking the performance of its statutory functions. The funding provided through the levy by all relevant commercial, public and community broadcasters is vital to the proper functioning of the Authority. The BAI made the current levy order in 2010.
I recognise the financial difficulty that all broadcasters are facing. As the Deputy will be aware, I obtained Government approval to proceed with the drafting of a number of legislative amendments to the Broadcasting Act, 2009 including amendment of the provisions of the Act relating to the broadcasting levy to alleviate the burden on broadcasters. The proposals provide that a portion of the licence fee receipts will be paid to BAI to help defray their administrative costs. This will reduce the overall levy to be paid by the sector and would be applied evenly across all broadcasters, with community broadcasters exempted from the levy altogether. The amount of the reduction would be contingent on the overall level of licence fee receipts.
The proposed amendments were considered under Pre-Legislative Scrutiny by the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Communications, Climate Action & Environment and I received their report on 8 March. The Bill is currently being drafted by Parliamentary Counsel and I expect to publish it in the Autumn.
