Joint Committee on Arts, Media, Communications, Culture and Sport to meet for pre-legislative Scrutiny of the revised General Scheme of the Broadcasting (Amendment) Bill

The meeting will take place in Committee Room 1 of Leinster House between 12:30-14:40.

Representatives from Virgin Media Television, Community Television Association, Screen Producers Ireland and Teilifís na Gaeilge – (TG4) will appear before the Committee.

Speaking ahead of the meeting, Committee Cathaoirleach Deputy Alan Kelly said: 

“We welcome the opportunity to continue our pre-legislative scrutiny of the General Scheme of the Broadcasting (Amendment) Bill with representatives from the media sector. The Bill is intended to enhance accountability, transparency and value-for-money in public service media providers. The Bill also contains measures to convert the statutory Broadcasting Fund to a platform-neutral Media Fund. This will fund all schemes prepared by Coimisiún na Meán to support the production, distribution and archiving of public service content by the wider media sector which will be made available free of charge to the general public.”

“TG4 holds a unique position in Ireland’s media landscape as an Irish-language public service media provider. Under the Bill’s provisions for public service content, 25% of any new fund will be allocated to Irish language which will support Irish language media and benefit Irish language audiences in our Gaeltacht communities and beyond”

“In an era of mis and disinformation, the provision of independent, high-quality journalism and trustworthy news and current affairs coverage is crucial.” “The provision of quality public service content is not just the preserve of public service media bodies and we look forward to hearing from stakeholders as to the impacts of the Bill in their respective areas. The Committee recognises too that public sector broadcasters, commissioning independently produced content,  also play a vital role in the successful development of the independent production sector and we look to explore the impacts of the Bill in this regard. “

“We look forward to hearing the views of representatives on the revised scheme of the Bill and discussing the challenges facing their organisations.” 

Watch the meeting live here or on the Oireachtas smartphone app for Apple and Android.