The purpose of these amendments is to ensure appropriate remuneration and expenses are agreed and paid to appointed authorised officers. Of course, it is already the case that authorised officers who are members of an coimisiún staff would be remunerated. These amendments, however, will ensure any other individuals, such as external subject experts, are also appointed under terms and conditions set out by an coimisiún. Those terms and conditions, as is standard for such matters, are subject to the approval of the M…

The purpose of these amendments is to require coimisiún na meán to state the geographical area in which the action required of an online service addressed by a content limitation notice is to be taken. This is to provide legal clarity in that regard.

Amendments Nos. 274 to 277, inclusive, provide for consultation on preparing content production schemes between an coimisiún and Screen Ireland and provide that anyone can apply for funding under a scheme. Amendments Nos. 287 to 290, inclusive, allow for the Minister to provide by order that Screen Ireland may make a scheme and that an coimisiún should fund one. Amendments Nos. 278 and 279 clarify that all aspects of the development of European works may benefit from funding under a content production scheme. Amend…

Gabhaim buíochas leis na Seanadóirí as an spéis a léirigh siad sa Bhille agus an mionscrúdú a rinne siad ar na forálacha. As Senators stated on the first day we debated this, the Online Safety and Media Regulation Bill is crucial legislation. It modernises the regulation of the media ecosystem in Ireland and lays the foundations for the new regulatory frontier of online safety, which will be of great importance when it comes to protecting our children online. Key to this is the establishment of a robust and agile r…

I move amendment No. 1: In page 7, line 27, to delete “sound”. Amendments Nos. 1, 92, 94, 95, 97, 100, 101 and 103 collectively provide for the inclusion of providers of community television as bodies that may apply for funding under the scheme for professional journalistic practices. This matter was raised on Dáil Committee Stage and, having examined the issue, I will bring these providers into the scope of the scheme. As the Government amendments address the substance of the related amendments tabled by Deputies …

I thank Deputy Munster for her engagement on Committee Stage with regard to that amendment. On Deputy Ó Snodaigh's point, I am advised that it is not necessary to make reference to any language medium in which journalism would be provided to the public. It is about the journalism.

Gabhaim buíochas leis na Teachtaí Ó Snodaigh, Munster agus Mythen as a gcuid leasuithe. During the course of Committee Stage, I undertook to come back to Deputy Ó Snodaigh on the proposal to substitute "Coimisiún" and "Coimisinéir" for "Commission" and "Commissioner" wherever mentioned in the Bill. As the Deputy referred to, I wrote to him in this regard on 16 November. As he has said himself, I understand and agree with the underlying intention of the proposed amendment but, at this stage, it would require more th…

I move amendment No. 4: In page 12, line 19, after “audiovisual” to insert “or sound”.

I move amendment No. 5: In page 13, line 10, after “providing” to insert “sound”.

I move amendment No. 6: In page 13, line 15, after “to” to insert “sound”.

I move amendment No. 7: In page 13, line 38, to delete “or”.

I move amendment No. 8: In page 18, line 23, to delete “consent” and substitute “approval”.

I move amendment No. 9: In page 18, line 23, to delete “approval” and substitute “consent”.

As I set out on Committee Stage with regard to amendment No. 10, I am advised that it is not appropriate to give a public body this type of general power. It should be explicitly linked to its functions. This is why the Bill provides for these powers in relation to designated online services and their compliance with online safety codes. Under the Bill it will be an offence for them not to do so. On amendment No. 35, the Digital Services Act sets out a detailed process by which this may be done. The Digital Service…

Gabhaim buíochas leis na Teachtaí as ucht a gcuid leasuithe. As I set out on Committee Stage, I believe the intention of amendments Nos. 11 and 12 is already provided for in paragraphs (c) and (e) of section 7(3) of the Broadcasting Act, as substituted by section 7 of the Bill. Mar sin, ní mholaim glacadh leis na leasuithe seo. I will not accept amendment No. 13 because an coimisiún will undertake a comprehensive review of the provision of Irish language services across the media system on foot of a recommendation …

Sílim go raibh mé soiléir go leor. Caithfimid fanacht go dtí go bhfaighfear na moltaí a rinne an Coimisiún um Thodhchaí na Meán agus go ndéanfar athbhreithniú cuimsitheach ar sheirbhísí agus ar ábhair Gaeilge ar fud chóras na meán. We should wait for that. The commission set out in this report a number of issues that the review should focus on which I named earlier and which we should wait for. Tá sé sin leathan go leor chun na ceisteanna a d'ardaigh an Teachta a chlúdach.

The amendment seeks to require coimisiún na meán to meet with the gambling regulatory authority biannually and to produce reports on online gambling annually. As I set out on Dáil Committee Stage, the Bill already addresses the issue, which is essentially about the co-operation of regulatory bodies on the issue of gambling, by setting out that coimisiún na meán must co-operate in the regulation of gambling with any public body concerned with that matter and this will enable an coimisiún and the gambling regulatory …

Gabhaim buíochas leis na Teachtaí as a gcuid leasuithe. Ní ghlacaim le leasuithe Uimh. 15, 17 nó 69, toisc, mar a luaigh mé ar Chéim an Choiste, go ndéanann siad macasamhail d’fhorálacha Acht na dTeangacha Oifigiúla, 2003, mar a leasaíodh é, nó, i gcás leasú Uimh. 17, go bhfuil sé sriantach gan ghá. Amendments Nos. 15, 17 and 69 all seek to require a minimum number of members of staff or commissioners in coimisiún na meán to be competent in the Irish language. It is important to set out the overarching legislative …

I move amendment No. 16: In page 23, line 22, to delete "following consultation with" and substitute "with the consent of".

I move amendment No. 18: In page 27, line 31, to delete "consent" and substitute "approval".