The
Audiovisual Federation of IBEC has welcomed the new Broadcasting
Bill which was published on the 27th May by Minister Sile deValera.
John Cummins, Chairman of the Federation, said that the Bill was
long overdue and welcomed the general thrust. While he welcomed
the allocation of £16 million for commissions the independent film
sector by RTE, he emphasised that the inflator mechanism to ensure
that the allocation to the independent sector kept pace with the
increased TV production spend within RTE was an essential element
to the bill which would need to be agreed by all concerned. However
he believed that the Bill should have contained a more visionary
plan including job creation and export opportunities for the development
of the whole broadcasting sector. He also welcomed the establishment
of TnaG as an independent entity.
Tommy McCabe, Director
of the Audiovisual Federation, believed that the establishment of
a transmission entity, in which RTE would a minority stake, to provide
digital terrestrial TV to Ireland would enhance the development
of broadcasting and the information society in Ireland. He regretted
that there was no reference to index linking of the RTE TV licence
fee, which the Federation believed was necessary to ensure that
the real value of income for public broadcasting including commissions
for the independent sector was maintained. The Federation believed
that the clarification on the public broadcasting service remit
was a positive development. It also welcomed the establishment of
a Broadcasting Commission of Ireland which had been recommended
by the Federation in recent submissions to Government. A full response
to the Bill will be submitted to Government by the Federation in
due course.
For Further information
contact
Tommy McCabe,
Director,
IBEC Audiovisual Federation,
84/86 Lower Baggot Street,
Dublin 2.
Tel: 353 1 660 1011
Fax: 353 1 600 1717
Email: audiovisual.fed@ibec.ie
