Tithe an Oireachtais An Comhchoiste um Chumarsáid, Gníomhú ar son na hAeráide agus Comhshaol Tuarascáil ón gComhchoiste maidir leis an nGrinnscrúdú Réamhreachtach ar Scéim Ghinearálta Bille Craolacháin (Leasú), 2017 agus Táillí Atarchuir Houses of the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Communications, Climate Action and Environment Report of the Joint Committee on the Pre-Legislative Scrutiny of the General Scheme of a Broadcasting (Amendment) Bill 2017 and Retransmission Fees 32CCAE003 Tithe an Oireachtais An Comhchoiste um Chumarsáid, Gníomhú ar son na hAeráide agus Comhshaol Tuarascáil ón gComhchoiste maidir leis an nGrinnscrúdú Réamhreachtach ar Scéim Ghinearálta Bille Craolacháin (Leasú), 2017 agus Táillí Atarchuir Houses of the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Communications, Climate Action and Environment Report of the Joint Committee on the Pre-Legislative Scrutiny of the General Scheme of a Broadcasting (Amendment) Bill 2017 and Retransmission Fees 32CCAE003 General Scheme of the Broadcasting (Amendment) Bill 2017 and Retransmission Fees Table of Contents INTRODUCTION .................................................................................................... 5 Table 1: Summary of the Heads of the Bill .............................................................. 7 RECOMMENDATIONS – HEADS OF THE BILL ............................................................. 9 Short Title and Commencement (Head 1) ............................................................... 9 1.1.1 Section (i) ................................................................................................ 9 1.1.2 Section (ii) ............................................................................................... 9 KEY ISSUE: (Head 2) Compensation mechanism (broadcasting levy) ........................................................ 9 1.1.3 Comment ................................................................................................. 9 1.1.4 Recommendations ..................................................................................... 9 1.1.5 Heads .................................................................................................... 10 KEY ISSUE: (Head 3) Establishing a post BrExit hub in Ireland for cross-border broadcasters .................... 10 1.1.6 Recommendations ................................................................................... 10 1.1.7 Heads .................................................................................................... 10 KEY ISSUE: (Head 4) Part-funding the BAI with licence fee monies and the impact on RTÉ ........................ 11 1.1.8 Recommendation .................................................................................... 11 1.1.9 Heads / Amendment................................................................................ 11 KEY ISSUE: (Head 5) Tendering of the licence fee collection agent ......................................................... 12 1.1.10 Comment ............................................................................................... 12 1.1.11 Recommendation .................................................................................... 12 1.1.12 Heads .................................................................................................... 12 KEY ISSUE: (Head 6) The proposed bursary scheme for local journalists in local / community radio ............ 13 1.1.13 Comment ............................................................................................... 13 1.1.14 Recommendation .................................................................................... 13 1.1.15 Heads .................................................................................................... 14 KEY ISSUE: (Head 7) Proposed repeal of Section 103 -(Cable copyright exemption) ................................. 15 General Scheme of the Broadcasting (Amendment) Bill 2017 and Retransmission Fees 1.1.16 Recommendations: ................................................................................. 15 1.1.17 Heads / Amendments .............................................................................. 15 OTHER RECOMMENDATIONS-RETRANSMISSION FEES ............................................. 16 KEY ISSUE: Electronic Programme Guide (EPG) ...................................................................... 16 1.1.18 Comment ............................................................................................... 16 1.1.19 Recommendations ................................................................................... 16 KEY ISSUE: Retransmission fees ........................................................................................... 17 1.1.20 Recommendations ................................................................................... 17 KEY ISSUE: Voluntary carriage / retransmission fee ................................................................ 18 1.1.21 Recommendation .................................................................................... 18 KEY ISSUE: Capacity to negotiate ......................................................................................... 18 1.1.22 Recommendation .................................................................................... 18 Request for Policy Advice. ................................................................................... 18 KEY ISSUE: Complete review of existing broadcasting legislation .............................................. 18 1.1.23 Recommendation .................................................................................... 18 BACKGROUND .................................................................................................... 19 Pre-legislative Scrutiny (PLS) by Parliament .......................................................... 19 KEY ISSUES CONSIDERED BY THE JOINT COMMITTEE ............................................. 21 Key issue 1: Compensation mechanism (broadcasting levy) .................................... 21 Key issue 2: Part-funding the BAI with licence fee monies / IMPACT on RTÉ .............. 21 Key issue 3: Tendering of the licence fee collection agent ....................................... 21 Key issue 4: The proposed bursary scheme for local journalists ............................... 22 Key Issue 5: Proposed repeal of Section 103 ......................................................... 22 Key issue 6: Electronic Programme Guide (EPG) .................................................... 23 Key issue 7: Retransmission fees ......................................................................... 23 Key issue 8: Voluntary carriage / retransmission fee .............................................. 24 General Scheme of the Broadcasting (Amendment) Bill 2017 and Retransmission Fees Key Issue 9: Capacity to negotiate ...................................................................... 24 Key issue 10: Complete review of existing broadcasting legislation .......................... 24 GENERAL SCHEME PROPOSALS AND STAKEHOLDER COMMENTARY ........................... 25 RETRANSMISSION FEES AND STAKEHOLDER COMMENTARY ..................................... 34 APPENDIX 1 – Letter from Minister Naughten To The Committee 7 June 2017 ............. 43 APPENDIX 2 - Briefing Note Re Retransmission Fees - Department Of Communications, Climate Action And Environment (MAY 2017) .......................................................... 45 APPENDIX 3 – Minister Naughten’s Press Release:9 May 2017 .................................. 48 APPENDIX 4 – General Scheme Of The Brodcasting (Amendment) Bill 2017 (HEADS) .. 51 APPENDIX 5 – Briefing Note Re Heads Of The Bill (Department Of Communications, Climate Action And Environment):7 JUNE 2017 ....................................................... 64 APPENDIX 6 – Official Report Of The Parliamentary Debates ..................................... 67 Tuesday 11th July 2017....................................................................................... 67 Tuesday, 3 October 2017 .................................................................................... 98 APPENDIX 7 - Opening Statements Tuesday 11 July 2017 ...................................... 142 APPENDIX 8 - Opening Statements Tuesday 3 October 2017 .................................. 179 APPENDIX 9 - Orders Of Reference – Joint Committee On Communications, Climate Action And Environment ..................................................................................... 227 A: Functions Of The Committee .................................................................... 227 B: Scope And Context Of Activities Of Committees ...................................... 230 C: Establishment Of Select Committees: Dáil Éireann Motion, 16 June 2016 ...... 231 Select Committee Terms Of Reference: Dáil Éireann Motion, 7 Sept 2016 ............... 232 D: Establishment Of Select Committees: Seanad Éireann Motion, 21 July 2016 .. 233 Committee Terms Of Reference: Motion – Seanad Éireann 29 September 2016 ....... 234 E: Functions Of The Joint Committee ............................................................ 235 Oversight Of The Department ............................................................................ 235 Public Service Management Act 1997 ................................................................. 236 Engagement With Chairmen Designate Of State Bodies Under The Aegis Of The Department ...................................................................................................