Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 16 June 2026
558. Deputy Roderic O'Gorman asked the Minister for Culture, Communications and Sport when the Broadcasting (Amendment) Bill 2026 is expected to be signed into law; if he expects the Bill to be enacted before the Dáil Summer recess; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45702/26]
View answerWhen enacted, the Broadcasting (Amendment) Bill will enhance accountability, transparency and value-for-money in our public service media providers, RTÉ and TG4, and establish a new statutory framework to support the provision of public service content by the wider sector.
The Bill was published on 28 May 2026 and completed Dáil Second Stage on 10 June 2026, and has now been referred to the Select Committee on Arts, Media, Communications, Culture and Sport for Committee Stage.
On 21 May 2026, I wrote to the Cathaoirleach of the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Arts, Media, Communications, Culture and Sport to inform him I had received Government approval to publish the Bill and that I would be bringing forward a number of technical amendments primarily aimed at addressing the interaction of State aid rules and the statutory remit of RTÉ and TG4 at Committee Stage.
It is my intention that the Bill will be enacted this year which will ensure that the Comptroller and Auditor General is in place to carry out an audit of RTÉ’s financial statements for the financial year 2026. However, it should be noted that the ordering of the business of the Oireachtas is a matter for the Oireachtas in the first instance.
