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Number 20 of 1988
RADIO AND TELEVISION ACT, 1988
ARRANGEMENT OF SECTIONS
Preliminary
Section | |
The Independent Radio and Television Commission
Sound Broadcasting Services
Television Programme Service
Application of certain provisions of Part III to television programme service contract. |
Miscellaneous
Acts Referred to | |
1960, No. 10 | |
1976, No. 37 | |
Broadcasting Authority Acts, 1960 to 1979 | |
1963, No. 33 | |
1926, No. 45 | |
Wireless Telegraphy Acts, 1926 to 1972 | |
1968, No. 19 | |
1977, No. 30 | |
1984, No. 6 | |
Number 20 of 1988
RADIO AND TELEVISION ACT, 1988
PART I
Preliminary
Short title.
1.—This Act may be cited as the Radio and Television Act, 1988.
Interpretation.
2.—(1) In this Act—
“apparatus for wireless telegraphy” has the meaning specified in the Wireless Telegraphy Act, 1926;
“broadcast” means the transmission, relaying or distribution by wireless telegraphy of communications, sounds, signs, visual images or signals, intended for direct reception by the general public whether such communications, sounds, signs, visual images or signals are actually received or not;
“the Commission” means the Commission established by Part II;
“company” has the meaning assigned to it by the Companies Act, 1963;
“the Minister” means the Minister for Communications;
“sound broadcasting service” means a broadcasting service which transmits, relays or distributes, by wireless telegraphy, communications, sounds, signs or signals intended for direct reception by the general public whether such communications, sounds, signs or signals are actually received or not;
“television programme service” means a service which comprises a compilation of audio-visual programme material of any description and is transmitted or relayed by means of wireless telegraphy directly or indirectly for reception by the general public.
(2) A reference in this Act to a section is a reference to a section of this Act, unless it is indicated that a reference to some other enactment is intended.
(3) A reference in this Act to a subsection or to a paragraph or to a subparagraph is a reference to the subsection, paragraph or subparagraph of the provision in which the reference occurs, unless it is indicated that a reference to some other provision is intended.
(4) A reference in this Act to any enactment shall be construed as a reference to that enactment as amended by any subsequent enactment (including this Act).
PART II
The Independent Radio and Television Commission
Establishment of Commission.
3.—(1) There shall stand established, on such day as the Minister by order appoints, a body to be known as An Coimisiún Um Raidio agus Telefís Neamhspleách—The Independent Radio and Television Commission.
(2) The Commission shall be a body corporate with perpetual succession and power to sue and be sued in its corporate name and to acquire, hold and dispose of land.
(3) The provisions of the Schedule to this Act shall apply to the Commission.
Functions of Commission.
4.—(1) It shall be the function of the Commission to arrange, in accordance with the provisions of this Act, for the provision of sound broadcasting services (including a national sound broadcasting service) and one television programme service additional to any broadcasting services provided by Radio Telefís Éireann pursuant to the Broadcasting Authority Acts, 1960 to 1979.
(2) (a) The Commision shall enter into contracts (in this Act referred to as “sound broadcasting contracts”) with persons (in this Act referred to as “sound broadcasting contractors”) under which the sound broadcasting contractors have, subject to the provisions of this Act, the right and duty to establish, maintain and operate sound broadcasting transmitters serving the areas specified in the sound broadcasting contract and to provide, as the sound broadcasting contract may specify, a sound broadcasting service.
(b) The Commission shall also enter into a contract (in this Act referred to as a “television programme service contract”) with a person or persons (in this Act referred to as a “television programme service contractor”) who shall have the right and duty to provide a television programme service.
(3) The Commission shall not authorise a sound broadcasting contractor to operate a sound broadcasting transmitter and provide a sound broadcasting service pursuant to a sound broadcasting contract unless and until the Minister has issued pursuant to this subsection to the Commission a licence in respect of the sound broadcasting transmitter to which the contract relates.
(4) Any licence issued under subsection (3) shall be valid only for such period of time as a sound broadcasting contract between the Commission and a sound broadcasting contractor is extant.
(5) Every sound broadcasting contract shall contain a condition requiring the sound broadcasting contractor concerned to establish, maintain and operate the sound broadcasting transmitter concerned in accordance with such terms and conditions as the Minister sees fit to attach to the licence referred to in subsection (3), (including any variations made thereto in accordance with the provisions of section 7 of this Act) and so long as the terms and conditions are complied with, the contract shall have the effect of conveying the benefits of the licence to the sound broadcasting contractor and any such transmitter so established, maintained and operated shall be deemed to be licensed for the purposes of section 3 of the Wireless Telegraphy Act, 1926.
(6) Every licence issued by the Minister to the Commission under subsection (3) shall be open to inspection by members of the public at the Commission's registered offices.
(7) It shall be the duty of the Commission to ensure that every sound broadcasting contractor and the television programme service contractor complies with the provisions of this Act.
(8) The Commission shall have all such powers as are necessary for or incidental to the performance of its functions under this Act including, in particular, the power to require sound broadcasting contractors and the television programme service contractor to enter into financial bonds with the Commission and to direct a contractor to record any or all of the programmes broadcast by him in the case of a sound broadcasting contract or provided by him in the case of a television programme service contract and to retain such recordings for a period of 30 days after the recording is made and to submit the recordings to the Commission, if the Commission so requires.
(9) The making of a recording by a contractor pursuant to a direction of the Commission pursuant to subsection (8) and the use by the Commission of any such recording exclusively for the purposes of its functions under this Act shall not constitute—
(a) an infringement of the copyright in any work, sound recording or cinematograph film, or
(b) an offence under any of the provisions of the Performers Protection Act, 1968.
(10) Without prejudice to the generality of subsection (8), the Commission shall have power—
(a) to make such contracts, agreements and arrangements and do all such other things as are incidental or conducive to the objects of the Commission;
(b) to acquire and make use of copyrights, patents, licences, privileges and concessions;
(c) to compile, prepare, publish and distribute, with or without charge, such magazines, books and other printed material and such aural and visual material as may seem to the Commission to be incidental or conducive to its objectives;
(d) subject to the consent of the Minister, to arrange for the provision of services with or without charge for and on behalf of any Minister of the Government by a sound broadcasting contractor or the television programme service contractor;
(e) to require sound broadcasting contractors and the television programme service contractor to co-operate with the Garda Síochána, local authorities and health boards in the dissemination of relevant information to the public in the event of major emergencies.
(11) During the continuance of any emergency declared under section 10 of the Wireless Telegraphy Act, 1926, the Minister may suspend any licence issued under subsection (3) and, while any such suspension continues, the Minister may operate any service which was provided under the suspended licence or require such service to be operated as he directs.
PART III
Sound Broadcasting Services
Applications for sound broadcasting contracts.
5.—(1) In order to secure the orderly development of sound broadcasting services and, having regard to the availability of radio frequencies for sound broadcasting, to allow for the establishment of a diversity of services in an area catering for a wide range of tastes including those of minority interests, the Commission shall as soon as may be after it has been established and may thereafter from time to time by notice published in at least one national newspaper, invite expressions of interest in the securing of contracts for sound broadcasting services under this Act. Such expressions of interest shall indicate in general terms the type of service that would be provided and shall not be regarded as an application for a sound broadcasting contract.
(2) The Commission shall make a report of its findings under subsection (1) to the Minister who, having considered the report and after consultation with the Commission, shall specify the area (which area may consist of the whole or any part of the State) in relation to which applications for a sound broadcasting contract are to be invited and the Commission shall comply with such direction.
(3) The Minister, having regard to the report furnished by the Commission under subsection (2) and having regard to the availability of radio frequencies for sound broadcasting, may limit the number of areas which he may specify under that subsection.
(4) The Commission shall, subject to the provisions of this Act, invite applications for a sound broadcasting contract for the provision of a sound broadcasting service in each area specified by the Minister under subsection (2) and, subject to the provisions of this Act, may enter into such contracts.
(5) Where the Commission invites applications for a sound broadcasting contract for the provision of a sound broadcasting service it shall by public notice specify the area in relation to which the sound broadcasting service is to be provided pursuant to such contract and by such notice shall invite persons interested in providing such a service to apply for such contract.
(6) Having regard to the findings of the Commission under subsection (1) the Commission may, in considering applications for the award of a sound broadcasting contract, place greater emphasis on one or more of the criteria specified in section 6 (2) of this Act and whenever it is the Commission's intention to so do it shall specify such intention to each person who has indicated his intention of being an applicant for a contract.
(7) Every notice under subsection (5) shall—
(a) be published in at least one national newspaper, and where appropriate, in one local newspaper circulating in the area to be served;
(b) specify the procedure to be followed in order to make an application;
(c) specify any other matters which appear to the Commission to be necessary or relevant.
Determination of applications for award of sound broadcasting contracts.
6.—(1) The Commission shall, in accordance with the provisions of this Act, consider every application for a sound broadcasting contract received by it pursuant to a notice under section 5 (5) for the purpose of determining the most suitable applicant, if any, to be awarded a sound broadcasting contract.
(2) In the consideration of applications received by it and in determining the most suitable applicant to be awarded a sound broadcasting contract, the Commission shall have regard to—
(a) the character of the applicant or, if the applicant is a body corporate, the character of the body and its directors, manager, secretary or other similar officer and its members and the persons entitled to the beneficial ownership of its shares;
(b) the adequacy of the expertise and experience and of the financial resources that will be available to each applicant and the extent to which the application accords with good economic principles;
(c) the quality, range and type of the programmes proposed to be provided by each applicant or, if there is only one applicant, by that applicant;
(d) the quantity, quality, range and type of programmes in the Irish language and the extent of programmes relating to Irish culture proposed to be provided;
(e) the extent to which the applicant will create within the proposed sound broadcasting service new opportunities for Irish talent in music, drama and entertainment;
(f) the desirability of having a diversity of services in the area specified in the notice under section 5 (5) catering for a wide range of tastes including those of minority interests;
(g) the desirability of allowing any person, or group of persons, to have control of, or substantial interests in, an undue number of sound broadcasting services in respect of which a sound broadcasting contract has been awarded under this Act;
(h) the desirability of allowing any person, or group of persons, to have control of, or substantial interests in, an undue amount of the communications media in the area specified in the notice under section 5 (5);
(i) the extent to which the service proposed—
(i) serves recognisably local communities and is supported by the various interests in the Community, or
(ii) serves communities of interest, and
(j) any other matters which the Commission considers to be necessary to secure the orderly development of sound broadcasting services.
(3) In considering the suitability of any applicant for the award of a sound broadcasting contract to provide a sound broadcasting service in respect of an area which includes a Gaeltacht area, the Commission shall have particular regard to the preservation as a spoken language of the Irish language.
Variation of licence for sound broadcasting transmitter.
7.—(1) The Minister may, if it seems necessary to him so to do for any of the reasons specified in subsection (2), vary any term or condition of a licence issued pursuant to section 4 (3).
(2) The Minister may vary any term or condition of a licence issued pursuant to section 4 (3)—
(a) if it appears to him to be necessary so to do in the interest of good radio frequency management;
(b) for the purpose of giving effect to any international agreement to which the State is a party and which has been ratified by the State and which relates to sound broadcasting;
(c) if it appears to him to be in the public interest so to do;
(d) if it appears to him to be necessary for the safety or security of persons or property so to do;
(e) on request from the Commission after consultation with any affected sound broadcasting contractor;
(f) on request from the Commission on behalf of a sound broadcasting contractor.
(3) (a) If the Minister, for any reason specified in paragraph (a), (b) or (c) of subsection (2) proposes to vary, pursuant to this section, any term or condition of a licence issued pursuant to section 4 (3), he shall, by notice in writing, inform the Commission of his intention and of the reasons therefor and the Commission shall, within 7 days of receiving that notification, give notice to the sound broadcasting contractor accordingly.
(b) The sound broadcasting contractor shall have the right to make representations in writing to the Commission in respect of the Minister's intentions, within 21 days after the service of the notice by the Commission.
(c) The Commission shall transmit any such representations to the Minister within a further 7 days and the Minister, having considered the representations, may make such decision thereon as seems to him to be appropriate.
(4) (a) If, having considered the representations (if any) which have been notified to him by the Commission by or on behalf of a sound broadcasting contractor, the Minister decides to vary any term or condition of a licence, he shall, by notice in writing, inform the Commission of his decision.
(b) The Commission shall, within 7 days of receipt of the Minister's decision by notice in writing inform the sound broadcasting contractor of that decision.
(c) On and from the day following service on the contractor of notice of the Minister's decision the licence shall have effect subject to the variation thereof by that decision.
(5) A notice under subsection (3) or (4) may be served on the Commission and by the Commission on a sound broadcasting contractor, by leaving it at, or sending it by prepaid post to, the Commission's address and the sound broadcasting contractor's last known address respectively or if, in the latter case, the sound broadcasting contractor is a company, by leaving it at, or sending it by prepaid post to, the registered office of the company.
Contracts for temporary or institutional sound broadcasting services.
8.—(1) The Commission may, in any period of twelve months, enter into a sound broadcasting contract with an applicant therefor for the provision in such area as may be specified in the contract of a sound broadcasting service for a period of not more than fourteen days (whether consecutive days or otherwise) in that period of twelve months.
(2) The Commission may enter into a sound broadcasting contract with an applicant therefor for the provision of a low-power sound broadcasting service which is intended to serve only such single educational institution, hospital, or other similar establishment as may be specified in the contract.
(3) Section 9 (1) (c) shall not apply to a contract awarded for the provision of a sound broadcasting service under this section.
(4) Sections 5 and 6 shall not apply in the case of a contract applied for, or awarded, for the provision of a sound broadcasting service under this section.
Duty of sound broadcasting contractor in relation to programmes.
9.—(1) Every sound broadcasting contractor shall ensure that—
(a) all news broadcast by him is reported and presented in an objective and impartial manner and without any expression of his own views;
(b) the broadcast treatment of current affairs, including matters which are either of public controversy or the subject of current public debate, is fair to all interests concerned and that the broadcast matter is presented in an objective and impartial manner and without any expression of his own views: Provided that should it prove impracticable in relation to a single broadcast to apply this paragraph, two or more related broadcasts may be considered as a whole, if the broadcasts are transmitted within a reasonable period of each other;
(c) a minimum of—
(i) not less than 20 per cent. of the broadcasting time, and
(ii) if the sound broadcasting service is provided for more than 12 hours in any one day, two hours of broadcasting time between 07.00 hours and 19.00 hours, is devoted to the broadcasting of news and current affairs programmes; provided a derogation from this provision is not authorised by the Commission under section 15;
(d) anything which may reasonably be regarded as offending against good taste or decency, or as being likely to promote, or incite to, crime or as tending to undermine the authority of the State, is not broadcast by him;
(e) in programmes broadcast by him, and in the means employed to make such programmes, the privacy of any individual is not unreasonably encroached upon.
(2) Nothing in subsection (1) (a) or (1) (b) shall prevent a sound broadcasting contractor from transmitting political party broadcasts: Provided that a sound broadcasting contractor shall not, in the allocation of time for such broadcasts, give an unfair preference to any political party.
(3) The Commission shall draw up, and may, from time to time as occasion requires, revise a code governing standards and practice (hereinafter referred to as a code of practice) in relation to any matter specified in subsections (1) and (2).
(4) Whenever the Commission draws up pursuant to subsection (3) a code of practice relating to the matter in question every sound broadcasting contractor shall comply with such code and any revision thereof.
Advertisements.
10.—(1) Programmes broadcast in a sound broadcasting service provided pursuant to any sound broadcasting contract may include advertisements inserted therein.
(2) The Commission shall draw up, from time to time as it thinks proper, a code governing standards and practice in advertising and every sound broadcasting contractor shall comply with the code in respect of advertisements broadcast by it.
(3) No advertisement shall be broadcast which is directed towards any religious or political end or which has any relation to an industrial dispute.
(4) The total daily times for broadcasting advertisements in a sound broadcasting service provided pursuant to a sound broadcasting contract shall not exceed a maximum of 15 per cent. of the total daily broadcasting time and the maximum time to be given to advertisements in any hour shall not exceed a maximum of ten minutes.
(5) In this section, references to advertisements shall be construed as including references to advertising matter contained in sponsored programmes, that is to say, in programmes supplied for advertising purposes by or on behalf of an advertiser.
(6) It shall be the duty of the Commission to ensure that sound broadcasting contractors comply with the requirements of subsections (2), (3) and (4).
Complaints by public.
11.—(1) A sound broadcasting contractor shall give due and adequate consideration to any complaint, which is not of a frivolous or vexatious nature, made by a member of the public in respect of the sound broadcasting service provided by the contractor and shall, whilst his contract is in force, keep due and proper records of all such complaints and of any reply made thereto or of any action taken on foot thereof.
(2) A sound broadcasting contractor shall, if requested by the Commission make available for inspection by the Commission all records kept by him pursuant to subsection (1).
(3) The Minister may, by regulations, direct that complaints made by members of the public in respect of a sound broadcasting service provided under this Act be investigated by the Broadcasting Complaints Commission established by section 18A (inserted by the Broadcasting Authority (Amendment) Act, 1976) of the Broadcasting Authority Act, 1960.
(4) For the purposes of an investigation by the Broadcasting Complaints Commission pursuant to regulations under this section—
(a) the Broadcasting Authority Act, 1960, shall have effect subject to the following modifications—
(i) a reference in sections 18B and 18C (inserted by the Broadcasting Authority (Amendment) Act, 1976), other than in section 18B (1) (e), to the Authority shall be construed as a reference to the sound broadcasting contractor concerned;
(ii) a reference in section 18B (7) (as so inserted) to the Authority shall be construed as referring to the sound broadcasting contractor concerned and to the Commission established by this Act;
(iii) a reference in section 18B (as so inserted) to section 18 (1), section 18 (1A) or section 18 (1B) of the Broadcasting Authority Act, 1960, shall be construed as a reference to section 9;
(iv) a reference in section 18B (as so inserted) to a complaint that an advertisement contravened a code drawn up by Radio Telefís Éireann governing standards in broadcast advertising, or prohibiting either certain methods of advertising in broadcasting or a broadcast in particular circumstances of advertising, shall be construed as a reference to section 10 (2);
(v) a reference in section 18B (as so inserted) to section 31 (1) of the Broadcasting Authority Act, 1960, shall be construed as a reference to section 12.
(b) Section 6 of the Broadcasting Authority (Amendment) Act, 1976, shall have effect as if a reference therein to the Authority were a reference to the sound broadcasting contractor concerned.
Application of orders under section 31 (1) of Broadcasting Authority Act, 1960.
12.—Every direction given to Radio Telefís Éireann pursuant to section 31 (1) of the Broadcasting Authority Act, 1960, by the Minister which is in force on the commencement of this Act or which is given by him after such commencement, shall, for so long as the direction remains in force, apply to a sound broadcasting service provided pursuant to a sound broadcasting contract and shall be complied with by a sound broadcasting contractor as if the direction were given to him, and the said section 31 (1) shall be construed and have effect accordingly.
Investigation into affairs of sound broadcasting contractor.
13.—(1) The Commission may, for any of the reasons in subsection (2), conduct an investigation into the operational, programming, financial, technical or other affairs of a sound broadcasting contractor and the sound broadcasting contractor concerned shall co-operate in any such investigation.
(2) The Commission may conduct, or appoint any other person to conduct, an investigation under this section—
(a) if it has reasonable grounds for believing that the sound broadcasting contractor is not providing a sound broadcasting service in accordance with the terms of his contract; or
(b) if, because of the manner in which the sound broadcasting service is being operated—
(i) there is interference with the working of any apparatus for wireless telegraphy in respect of which a licence has been granted under this or any other Act and is in force, or with any apparatus for wireless telegraphy which is lawfully maintained and worked without such a licence, or
(ii) any apparatus for wireless telegraphy referred to in subparagraph (i) is thereby injuriously affected.
(3) All expenses reasonably incurred in relation to an investigation under this section conducted by the Commission or by any person appointed under subsection (2) shall be borne by the sound broadcasting contractor concerned.
(4) (a) If the Commission considers it necessary or desirable so to do, it may require a sound broadcasting contractor to carry out a market research survey (such market research survey to be carried out by a person approved of by the Commission).
(b) A market research survey carried out pursuant to paragraph (a) shall be of such scope as appears to the Commission to be reasonable, having regard to the extent and nature of the sound broadcasting service being provided by the sound broadcasting contractor.
(c) A market research survey carried out pursuant to a requirement of the Commission under this subsection shall be a survey of the audience reaction to the broadcasting service provided by the sound broadcasting contractor concerned or any particular aspect thereof.
(d) A sound broadcasting contractor shall furnish the Commission with the results of any market research survey carried out in compliance with a requirement of the Commission under this subsection.
Terms and conditions of sound broadcasting contract.
14.—(1) Every sound broadcasting contract may contain such terms and conditions as the Commission thinks appropriate and specifies in the contract.
(2) Without prejudice to the generality of subsection (1), the Commission may specify in a sound broadcasting contract all or any of the following terms or conditions:
(a) the period during which the contract shall continue in force;
(b) whether the contract may be renewed and, if so, the manner in which, the terms on which, and the period for which, the contract may be so renewed;
(c) a condition prohibiting the assignment of the contract or of any interest therein;
(d) if the sound broadcasting contractor be a company, a condition prohibiting any alteration in the Memorandum or Articles of Association of the company or in so much of that Memorandum or of those Articles as may be specified or prohibiting any material change in the ownership of the company;
(e) a condition requiring the sound broadcasting contractor to provide the quality, range and type of programmes which he proposed to offer in his application for the award of the contract.
(3) If a sound broadcasting contract does not contain a condition of the type specified in paragraph (c) or (d) of subsection (2), the following provisions shall have effect:
(a) a sound broadcasting contract, or any interest in a sound broadcasting contract, shall not be assignable, nor shall any alteration be made in the Memorandum or Articles of Association of any company which is a sound broadcasting contractor, nor shall there be any material change in the ownership of such a company, without the previous consent in writing of the Commission, and the Commission may, if it considers it reasonable so to do, refuse such consent;
(b) in considering whether to grant its consent to an assignment of a sound broadcasting contract, a change in the Memorandum or Articles of Association of a company which is a sound broadcasting contractor, or a material change in the ownership of such a company, the Commission shall have regard to the criteria specified in section 6 (2) and, where applicable, section 6 (3).
(4) Every sound broadcasting contract shall—
(a) provide that the Commission may, at its discretion, suspend or terminate the contract—
(i) if any false or misleading information was given to the Commission by or on behalf of the sound broadcasting contractor prior to the making of the contract,
(ii) if the sound broadcasting contractor has, in the opinion of the Commission, committed serious or repeated breaches of his obligations under the sound broadcasting contract or under this Act;
(b) provide that a sound broadcasting contractor shall pay to the Commission the fees, shares of profits or royalties specified therein;
(c) provide that the sound broadcasting contractor shall provide such information (including copies of his accounts) which the Commission considers it requires in order to enable it carry out its functions under this Act.
(5) Every sound broadcasting contract shall be open to inspection by members of the public at the Commission's registered office and the Commission shall, on request made by any person and on payment of such sum (if any) as the Commission may reasonably require, furnish to that person a copy of that contract.
Derogation from requirements relating to news and current affairs programming.
15.—Notwithstanding section 9 (1) (c), the Commission may authorise a derogation from the requirement in question in whole or in part in the case of sound broadcasting services which it contracts to provide in any area to meet specific special interests, provided it is satisfied that there is a reasonable plurality of sources of news and current affairs programming available to the public in question from other sound broadcasting services.
Co-operation with Radio Telefís Éireann in use of broadcasting installation.
16.—(1) The Minister may, at the request of the Commission and after consultation with Radio Telefís Éireann, require the latter to co-operate with sound broadcasting contractors in the use of any mast, tower, site or other installation or facility needed in connection with the provision of transmission facilities for sound broadcasting services to be established under this Act.
(2) A sound broadcasting contractor shall make to Radio Telefís Éireann such periodical or other payments in respect of any facilities provided in pursuance of subsection (1) as the Minister, after consultation with Radio Telefís Éireann and the Commission, directs.
PART IV
Television Programme Service
Applications for television programme service contract.
17.—The Commission shall, on being directed to do so by the Minister, invite applications for a television programme service contract for the provision of a television programme service which shall be distributed using channel capacity on wired broadcast relay systems and television programme retransmission systems licensed under regulations made under section 6 of the Wireless Telegraphy Act, 1926.
Application of certain provisions of Part III to television programme service contract.
18.—(1) The provisions of Part III of this Act, other than sections 7, 8 and 15, relating to the powers, duties, functions, obligations and responsibilities of the Minister, the Commission and sound broadcasting contractors respectively, shall apply with respect to the television programme service contract entered into by the Commission and the television programme service provided under this Part, and any reference in Part III of this Act to a sound broadcasting contractor shall for the purposes of this Part be construed as a reference to the television programme service contractor.
(2) Notwithstanding the generality of subsection (1), section 9 (1) (c) shall not apply in the case of the television programme service provided under the television programme service contract.
(3) The Commission shall ensure that the television programme service provided under this Act shall in its programming—
(a) be responsive to the interests and concerns of the whole community, be mindful of the need for understanding and peace within the whole island of Ireland, ensure that the programmes reflect the varied elements which make up the culture of the people of the whole island of Ireland, and have special regard for the elements which distinguish that culture and in particular for the Irish language;
(b) uphold the democratic values enshrined in the Constitution, especially those relating to rightful liberty of expression;
(c) have regard to the need for the formation of public awareness and understanding of the values and traditions of countries other than the State, including in particular those of such countries which are members of the European Community; and
(d) includes a reasonable proportion of news and current affairs programmes;
and the television programme service contractor shall comply with any requirements of the Commission in respect of such matters.
(4) For the purpose of ensuring compliance with subsection (3) the Commission shall ensure that a reasonable proportion of the programme service—
(a) is produced in the State or in another Member State of the European Communities, and
(b) is devoted to original programme material produced therein by persons other than the contractor, his subsidiary, his parent or existing broadcasting organisations.
PART V
Miscellaneous
Amendment of Wireless Telegraphy Act, 1926.
19.—Section 2 of the Wireless Telegraphy Act, 1926, is hereby amended by the substitution for the definition of “broadcast” therein of the following definition:
“‘broadcast’ means the transmission, relaying or distributing by wireless telegraphy of communications, sounds, signs, visual images or signals, intended for direct reception by the general public whether such communications, sounds, signs, visual images or signals are actually received or not;”.
Amounts to be paid to Commission by Minister.
20.—(1) The Minister, with the approval of the Minister for Finance, may in respect of each of the two consecutive financial years beginning with that in which the establishment day occurs, pay to the Commission such amount as he considers reasonable in respect of its initial expenses.
(2) The total of the amounts paid pursuant to subsection (1) shall not exceed £500,000.
(3) The amounts paid to the Commission pursuant to subsection (1) in respect of a year to which that subsection relates shall be deducted from the receipts in that year in respect of wired broadcast relay licence fees and section 8 (b) of the Broadcasting Authority (Amendment) Act, 1976, which provides for payment of money out of such receipts to Radio Telefís Éireann, shall be modified accordingly.
Expenses.
21.—The expenses incurred by the Minister in the administration of this Act shall, to such extent as may be sanctioned by the Minister for Finance, be paid out of moneys provided by the Oireachtas.
SCHEDULE
Membership of Commission.
1. (1) The members of the Commission shall be appointed by the Government and shall be not less than seven nor more than ten in number.
(2) The period of office of a member of the Commission shall be such period, not exceeding five years, as the Government may determine when appointing him.
(3) A member of the Commission whose term of office expires by effluxion of time shall be eligible for reappointment.
(4) A member of the Commission may resign his membership by letter sent to the Government and the resignation shall take effect on and from the date of receipt of the letter.
(5) A person shall not be appointed to be a member of the Commission unless he has had experience of, or shown capacity in, media or commercial affairs, radio communications engineering, trade union affairs, administration or social, cultural, educational or community activities.
Chairman of Commission.
2. (1) The Government shall from time to time as occasion requires appoint a member of the Commission to be chairman thereof.
(2) The chairman of the Commission shall, unless he sooner dies, resigns the office of chairman or ceases to be chairman under subparagraph (4) of this paragraph, hold office until the expiration of his period of office as a member of the Commission.
(3) The chairman of the Commission may at any time resign his office as chairman by letter sent to the Government and the resignation shall take effect at the commencement of the meeting of the Commission held next after the Commission has been informed by the Government of the resignation.
(4) Where the chairman of the Commission ceases during his term of office as chairman to be a member of the Commission, he shall also then cease to be chairman of the Commission.
Removal of member of Commission.
3. A member of the Commission may be removed from office by the Government for stated reasons, if, but only if, resolutions are passed by both Houses of the Oireachtas calling for his removal.
Remuneration and terms of office of members of Commission.
4. (1) A member of the Commission shall be paid out of funds at the disposal of the Commission—
(a) such remuneration as may be fixed from time to time by the Minister, with the consent of the Minister for Finance, and
(b) such amounts in respect of expenses as the Commission, with the approval of the Minister given with the consent of the Minister for Finance, considers reasonable.
(2) Subject to the provisions of this Act, a member of the Commission shall hold office upon and subject to such terms and conditions as may, from time to time, be determined by the Minister, with the consent of the Minister for Finance.
(3) The Minister shall cause a statement in writing specifying the terms of office and the remuneration of the members of the Commission to be laid before both Houses of the Oireachtas.
Disclosure by member of Commission of interest in proposed contract.
5. A member of the Commission who has—
(a) any interest in any company or concern with which the Commission proposes to make any contract, or
(b) any interest in any contract which the Commission proposes to make,
shall disclose to the Commission the fact of the interest and the nature thereof, and shall take no part in any deliberation or decision of the Commission relating to the contract, and the disclosure shall be recorded in the minutes of the Commission.
Seal of Commission.
6. (1) The Commission shall as soon as may be after its establishment provide itself with a seal.
(2) The seal of the Commission shall be authenticated by the signature of the chairman of the Commission or some other member thereof authorised by the Commission to act in that behalf and the signature of an officer of the Commission authorised by the Commission to act in that behalf.
(3) Judicial notice shall be taken of the seal of the Commission, and every document purporting to be an instrument made by the Commission and to be sealed with the seal (purporting to be authenticated in accordance with this paragraph) of the Commission shall be received in evidence and be deemed to be such instrument without further proof unless the contrary is shown.
Meetings and procedure of Commission.
7. (1) The Commission shall hold such and so many meetings as may be necessary for the due fulfilment of its functions.
(2) The Minister may fix the date, time and place of the first meeting of the Commission.
(3) Subject to the provisions of this Act, the Commission shall regulate its procedure by rules made under this subparagraph.
(4) At a meeting of the Commission—
(a) the chairman of the Commission shall, if present, be chairman of the meeting,
(b) if and so long as the chairman is not present or the office of chairman is vacant, the members of the Commission who are present shall choose one of their number to be chairman of the meeting.
(5) Every question at a meeting of the Commission shall be determined by a majority of the votes of the members present and voting on the question, and in the case of an equal division of votes, the chairman of the meeting shall have a second or casting vote.
(6) The Commission may act notwithstanding one or more vacancies among its members.
(7) The quorum for a meeting of the Commission shall be fixed by rules made under subparagraph (3) of this paragraph, but—
(a) it shall not be less than five, and
(b) until it is so fixed, it shall be five.
Officers and servants of Commission.
8. (1) The Commission shall, with the approval of the Minister, from time to time appoint a person to be the chief executive officer of the Commission, and such person shall be known, and in this Act is referred to, as the chief executive.
(2) The Commission may, as well as appointing the chief executive, appoint so many other persons to be members of the staff of the Commission, and to serve in such grades, as the Commission, with the approval of the Minister, given with the consent of the Minister for Finance, from time to time determines.
(3) The Commission may exercise all or any of its functions through or by such members of its staff as may be duly authorised in that behalf by the Commission.
Conditions of service, remuneration etc., of officers and servants of Commission.
9. (1) A member of the staff of the Commission, (including the chief executive) shall hold his office or employment on such terms and conditions as the Commission, with the approval of the Minister given with the consent of the Minister for Finance, may from time to time determine.
(2) There shall be paid by the Commission to its staff (including the chief executive) such remuneration and allowances as the Commission, with the approval of the Minister given with the consent of the Minister for Finance, thinks fit.
(3) In determining the remuneration or allowances to be paid to its staff or the terms or conditions subject to which such staff hold or are to hold their employment, the Commission shall comply with any directive with regard to such remuneration, allowances, terms and conditions which the Minister, with the consent of the Minister for Finance, may give from time to time, to the Commission.
(4) The Commission may at any time remove any member of the staff of the Commission from being a member of its staff.
(5) Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this paragraph, the chief executive shall not be removed without the consent of the Minister.
Membership of either House of Oireachtas or of European Parliament.
10. (1) Where a member of the Commission is—
(a) nominated as a member of Seanad Éireann, or
(b) nominated as a candidate for election to either House of the Oireachtas or to the European Parliament, or
(c) regarded pursuant to section 15 (inserted by the Act of 1984) of the Act of 1977, as having been elected to the European Parliament to fill a vacancy,
he shall thereupon cease to be a member of the Commission.
(2) Where a person employed by the Commission is—
(a) nominated as a member of Seanad Éireann, or
(b) nominated as a candidate for election to either House of the Oireachtas or to the European Parliament, or
(c) regarded pursuant to section 15 (inserted by the Act of 1984) of the Act of 1977 as having been elected to the European Parliament to fill a vacancy,
he shall stand seconded from employment by the Commission and shall not be paid by, or entitled to receive from, the Commission any remuneration or allowances—
(i) in case he is nominated as a member of Seanad Éireann or is regarded as having been elected to the European Parliament, in respect of the period commencing on such nomination or election, as the case may be, and ending when he ceases to be a member of Seanad Éireann or the European Parliament,
(ii) in case he is nominated as a candidate for election to either House of the Oireachtas or to the European Parliament, in respect of the period commencing on his nomination and ending when he ceases to be a member of such House or the European Parliament, as the case may be, or withdraws his candidature or fails to be elected, as may be appropriate.
(3) A person who is, for the time being, entitled under the Standing Orders of either House of the Oireachtas to sit therein or who is a member of the European Parliament shall, while he is so entitled or is such a member, be disqualified from becoming a member of the Commission or from employment in any capacity by the Commission.
(4) Without prejudice to the generality of subparagraph (2) of this paragraph, that subparagraph shall be construed as prohibiting the reckoning of a period mentioned in clause (i) or (ii) of that subparagraph, as service with the Commission for the purpose of any pensions, gratuities or other allowances payable on retirement or death.
(5) In this paragraph—
“the Act of 1977” means the European Assembly Elections Act, 1977;
“the Act of 1984” means the European Assembly Elections Act, 1984.
Superannuation of staff of Commission.
11. (1) The Commission may prepare a scheme or schemes for the granting of pensions, gratuities and other allowances on retirement or death to or in respect of such members of the staff of the Commission (including the chief executive) as it may think fit and the Commission shall submit any such scheme to the Minister for his approval.
(2) Every such scheme shall fix the time and conditions of retirement for all persons to or in respect of whom pensions, gratuities or allowances on retirement or death are payable under the scheme, and different times and conditions may be fixed in relation to different classes of persons.
(3) The Commission may at any time prepare and submit to the Minister a scheme amending a scheme previously submitted and approved of under this paragraph.
(4) A scheme submitted to the Minister under this paragraph shall provide that if any dispute arises as to the claim of any person to, or the amount of, any pension, gratuity or other allowance payable in pursuance of a scheme under this paragraph, such dispute shall be submitted to the Minister who shall refer it to the Minister for Finance, whose decision shall be final.
(5) A scheme submitted to the Minister under this paragraph shall, if approved of by the Minister with the consent of the Minister for Finance, be carried out by the Commission in accordance with its terms.
(6) No pension, gratuity or other allowance shall be granted by the Commission on the resignation, retirement or death of a member of the staff of the Commission (including the chief executive) otherwise than in accordance with a scheme under this paragraph.
(7) Every scheme submitted and approved of under this paragraph shall be laid before each House of the Oireachtas as soon as may be after it is approved of and if either House, within the next twenty-one days on which that House has sat after the scheme is laid before it, passes a resolution annulling the scheme, the scheme shall be annulled accordingly, but without prejudice to the validity of anything previously done thereunder.
General duty of Commission with respect to its revenue.
12. (1) It shall be the duty of the Commission so to conduct its affairs as to secure that its revenue becomes as soon as possible, and thereafter continues to be, at least sufficient to meet its expenses.
(2) Any excess of the revenue of the Commission over its expenditure shall be applied in such manner as the Minister, after consultation with the Commission and with the approval of the Minister for Finance, may direct, and any such direction may require that all, or part as may be specified in the direction, of such excess be paid into the Central Fund.
Temporary borrowings.
13. The Commission may, with the approval of the Minister, given with the consent of the Minister for Finance, borrow temporarily by arrangement with bankers such sums (including sums in a currency other than the currency of the State) as it may require for the purpose of providing for current expenditure.
Borrowing powers for general purposes.
14. (1) The Commission may, with the approval of the Minister, given with the consent of the Minister for Finance, borrow money (including money in a currency other than the currency of the State) by means of the creation of stock or other forms of security to be issued, transferred, dealt with and redeemed in such manner and on such terms and conditions as the Commission, with the consents aforesaid, may determine.
(2) The borrowing powers conferred by this paragraph on the Commission may, subject to the consent of the Minister, be exercised for any purpose arising in the performance of its functions, but there may be attached to a consent to borrow the condition that the moneys shall be utilised only for the purpose of a programme of capital works approved by the Minister.
(3) The terms upon which moneys are borrowed under this paragraph may include provisions charging the moneys and interest thereon upon all property of whatsoever kind for the time being vested in the Commission or upon any particular property of the Commission and provisions establishing the priority of such charges amongst themselves.
Investment by Commission.
15. The Commission may invest any of its funds in any manner in which a trustee is empowered by law to invest trust funds.
Accounts and audits.
16. (1) The Commission shall keep in such form as shall be approved by the Minister, after consultation with the Minister for Finance, all proper and usual accounts of all moneys received or expended by it, including an income and expenditure account and a balance sheet.
(2) Accounts kept in pursuance of this paragraph shall be submitted annually by the Commission to the Comptroller and Auditor General for audit at such time as the Minister, with the concurrence of the Minister for Finance, directs.
(3) Immediately after every audit under this paragraph of its accounts, the Commission shall send to the Minister—
(a) a copy of the income and expenditure account and balance sheet as certified by the Comptroller and Auditor General,
(b) a copy of the report of the Comptroller and Auditor General, and
(c) copies of such of the accounts submitted for audit as the Minister may appoint as accounts of which copies are to be furnished to him.
(4) As soon as may be after he has received the documents required to be furnished to him under this paragraph, the Minister shall cause such documents to be laid before each House of the Oireachtas.
Annual report and information to Minister.
17. (1) The Commission shall, in each year, at such date as the Minister may direct, make a report to the Minister of its proceedings under this Act during the preceding year, and the Minister shall cause copies of the Report to be laid before each House of the Oireachtas.
(2) Whenever the Minister so directs, the annual report shall also include information on such particular aspects of the Commission's proceedings under this Act as the Minister may specify.
(3) The Commission shall submit to the Minister such information regarding the performance of its functions as the Minister may from time to time require.
Uimhir 20 de 1988
AN tACHT RAIDIÓ AGUS TEILIFÍSE, 1988
RIAR NA nALT
Réamhráiteach
Alt | |
1. | |
2. |
An Coimisiún um Raidió agus Teilifís Neamhspleách
3. | |
4. |
Seirbhísí Craolacháin Fuaime
Seirbhís Clár Teilifíse
17. | |
18. | Feidhm fhorálacha áirithe de Chuid III maidir le conradh seirbhíse clár teilifíse. |
Ilghnéitheach
19. | |
20. | |
21. |
Na hAchtanna dá dTagraítear | |
Na hAchtanna um Údarás Craolacháin, 1960 go 1979 | |
Na hAchtanna Raidio-Theileagrafaíochta, 1926 go 1972 | |
Uimhir 20 de 1988
AN tACHT RAIDIÓ AGUS TEILIFÍSE, 1988
[An tiontú oifigiúil]
CUID I
Réamhráiteach
Gearrtheideal.
1.—Féadfar an tAcht Raidió agus Teilifíse, 1988, a ghairm den Acht seo.
Léiriú.
2.—(1) San Acht seo—
tá le “gaireas le haghaidh raidió-theileagrafaíochta” an bhrí a shonraítear san Acht Radio-Thelegrafaíochta, 1926;
ciallaíonn “craoladh” tarchur, leaschraoladh nó leathadh a dhéanamh, trí raidió-theileagrafaíocht, ar chumarsáidí, fuaimeanna, síneacha, amharc-íomhánna nó comharthaí, a bhfuil sé beartaithe go nglacfar go díreach iad ag an bpobal i gcoitinne, cibé acu a ghlactar nó nach nglactar na cumarsáidí, na fuaimeanna, na síneacha, na hamharcíomhánna nó na comharthaí sin iarbhír;
ciallaíonn “an Coimisiún” an Coimisiún a bhunaítear le Cuid II;
tá le “cuideachta” an bhrí a shanntar dó le hAcht na gCuideachtaí, 1963;
ciallaíonn “an tAire” an tAire Cumarsáide;
ciallaíonn “seirbhís craolacháin fuaime” seirbhís craolacháin a dhéanann tarchur, leaschraoladh nó leathadh, trí raidiótheileagrafaíocht, ar chumarsáidí, fuaimeanna, síneacha nó comharthaí a bhfuil sé beartaithe go nglacfar go díreach iad ag an bpobal i gcoitinne, cibé acu a ghlactar nó nach nglactar na cumarsáidí, na fuaimeanna, na síneacha nó na comharthaí sin iarbhír;
ciallaíonn “seirbhís clár teilifíse” seirbhís arb é atá inti teaglaim d'ábhar cláir closamhairc de thuairisc ar bith agus a tharchuirtear nó a leaschraoltar trí raidió-theileagrafaíocht lena glacadh go díreach nó go neamhdhíreach ag an bpobal i gcoitinne.
(2) Aon tagairt san Acht seo d'alt is tagairt í d'alt den Acht seo, mura léirítear gur tagairt d'achtachán éigin eile atá beartaithe.
(3) Aon tagairt san Acht seo d'fho-alt nó do mhír nó d'fhomhír is tagairt í don fho-alt, don mhír nó don fhomhír den fhoráil ina bhfuil an tagairt, mura léirítear gur tagairt d'fhoráil éigin eile atá beartaithe.
(4) Aon tagairt san Acht seo d'aon achtachán forléireofar í mar thagairt don achtachán sin arna leasú le haon achtachán dá éis sin (lena n-áirítear an tAcht seo).
CUID II
An Coimisiún um Raidió agus Teilifís Neamhspleách
Bunú an Choimisiún.
3.—(1) Ar cibé lá a cheapfaidh an tAire le hordú, beidh comhlacht arna bhunú ar a dtabharfar An Coimisiún um Raidió agus Teilifís Neamhspleách.
(2) Beidh an Coimisiún ina chomhlacht corpraithe agus comharbas suthain aige agus beidh cumhacht agartha aige agus beidh sé inagartha faoina ainm corpraithe agus beidh cumhacht aige talamh a fháil, a theachtadh agus a dhiúscairt.
(3) Beidh feidhm maidir leis an gCoimisiún ag forálacha an Sceidil a ghabhann leis an Acht seo.
Feidhmeanna an Choimisiúin.
4.—(1) Beidh sé d'fheidhm ag an gCoimisiún a shocrú, de réir fhorálacha an Achta seo, go gcuirfear ar fáil seirbhísí craolacháin fuaime (lena n-áirítear seirbhís craolacháin fuaime náisiúnta) agus seirbhís clár teilifíse amháin de bhreis ar aon seirbhísí craolacháin a sholáthraíonn Radio Telefís Éireann de bhun na nAchtanna um Údarás Craolacháin, 1960 go 1979.
(2) (a) Déanfaidh an Coimisiún conarthaí (dá ngairtear “conarthaí craolacháin fuaime” san Acht seo) le daoine (dá ngairtear “conraitheoirí craolacháin fuaime” san Acht seo) faoina mbeidh sé de cheart ag na conraitheoirí craolacháin fuaime agus de dhualgas orthu, faoi réir fhorálacha an Achta seo, tarchuradóirí craolacháin fuaime a bhunú, a chothabháil agus a oibriú, a fhreastalóidh ar na limistéir a bheidh sonraithe sa chonradh craolacháin fuaime chomh maith le seirbhís craolacháin fuaime a chur ar fáil de réir mar a bheidh sonraithe sa chonradh craolacháin fuaime.
(b) Déanfaidh an Coimisiún freisin conradh (dá ngairtear “conradh seirbhíse clár teilifíse” san Acht seo) le duine nó daoine (dá ngairtear “conraitheoir seirbhíse clár teilifíse” san Acht seo) a mbeidh sé de cheart aige agus de dhualgas air seirbhís clár teilifíse a chur ar fáil.
(3) Ní údaróidh an Coimisiún do chonraitheoir craolacháin fuaime tarchuradóir craolacháin fuaime a oibriú agus seirbhís craolacháin fuaime a chur ar fáil de bhun conartha craolacháin fuaime mura mbeidh, agus go dtí go mbeidh, ceadúnas maidir leis an tarchuradóir craolacháin fuaime lena mbaineann an conradh eisithe ag an Aire de bhun an fho-ailt seo chuig an gCoimisiún.
(4) Ní bailí d'aon cheadúnas arna eisiúint faoi fho-alt (3) ach amháin go ceann cibé tréimhse ama a mbeidh conradh craolacháin fuaime ar marthain idir an Coimisiún agus conraitheoir craolacháin fuaime.
(5) Beidh coinníoll i ngach conradh craolacháin fuaime á cheangal ar an gconraitheoir craolacháin fuaime áirithe an tarchuradóir craolacháin fuaime áirithe a bhunú, a chothabháil agus a oibriú de réir cibé téarmaí agus coinníollacha is cuí leis an Aire a chur ag gabháil leis an gceadúnas dá dtagraítear i bhfo-alt (3) (lena n-áirítear aon athruithe arna ndéanamh ar an gceadúnas de réir fhorálacha alt 7 den Acht seo) agus fad a dhéanfar de réir na dtéarmaí agus na gcoinníollacha, beidh d'éifeacht leis an gconradh tairbhí an cheadúnais a thabhairt don chonraitheoir craolacháin fuaime agus measfar aon tarchuradóir den sórt sin arna bhunú, arna chothabháil agus arna oibriú amhlaidh, a bheith ceadúnaithe chun críocha alt 3 den Acht Radio-Thelegrafaíochta, 1926.
(6) Beidh gach ceadúnas arna eisiúint ag an Aire chuig an gCoimisiún faoi fho-alt (3) ar fáil lena iniúchadh ag baill den phobal in oifigí cláraithe an Choimisiúin.
(7) Beidh sé de dhualgas ar an gCoimisiún a áirithiú go gcomhlíonfaidh gach conraitheoir craolacháin fuaime agus an conraitheoir seirbhíse clár teilifíse forálacha an Achta seo.
(8) Beidh ag an gCoimisiún na cumhachtaí sin go léir is gá le haghaidh comhlíonadh a fheidhmeanna faoin Acht seo, nó a bhainfidh lena gcomhlíonadh, lena n-áirítear, go háirithe, an chumhacht a cheangal ar chonraitheoirí craolacháin fuaime agus ar an gconraitheoir seirbhíse clár teilifíse dul i mbannaí airgeadais leis an gCoimisiún agus a ordú do chonraitheoir taifeadadh a dhéanamh d'aon cheann nó de gach ceann de na cláir a chraolann sé, i gcás conradh craolacháin fuaime, nó a chuireann sé ar fáil, i gcás conradh seirbhíse clár teilifíse, agus na taifeadtaí sin a choinneáil go ceann tréimhse 30 lá tar éis an taifeadadh a dhéanamh agus na taifeadtaí sin a chur faoi bhráid an Choimisiúin, má cheanglaíonn an Coimisiún amhlaidh.
(9) (a) Ní sárú é ar an gcóipcheart in aon saothar, taifeadadh fuaime nó scannán cineamatagrafach, ná
(b) ní cion é faoi aon cheann d'fhorálacha an Achta um Chosaint Taibheoirí, 1968,
conraitheoir do dhéanamh taifeadadh de bhun ordaithe ón gCoimisiún de bhun fho-alt (8), agus an Coimisiún d'úsáid aon taifeadadh den sórt sin chun críocha a fheidhmeanna faoin Acht seo, agus chuige sin amháin.
(10) Gan dochar do ghinearáltacht fho-alt (8), beidh de chumhacht ag an gCoimisiún—
(a) cibé conarthaí, comhaontuithe agus comhshocraíochtaí a dhéanamh, agus na nithe eile sin go léir a dhéanamh, a bheidh teagmhasach do chuspóirí an Choimisiúin nó cuiditheach leo;
(b) cóipchearta, paitinní, ceadúnais, pribhléidí agus lamháltais a fháil agus leas a bhaint astu;
(c) cibé irisí, leabhair agus ábhar clóite eile agus cibé ábhar éisteachta agus ábhar féachana is dealraitheach don Choimisiún a bheith teagmhasach dá aidhmeanna nó cuiditheach leo a thiomsú, a ullmhú, a fhoilsiú agus a dháileadh. faoi réir muirir nó gan mhuirear;
(d) faoi réir thoiliú an Aire, socrú a dhéanamh go gcuirfeadh conraitheoir craolacháin fuaime nó an conraitheoir seirbhíse clár teilifíse seirbhísí ar fáil, faoi réir muirir nó gan mhuirear, d'aon Aire den Rialtas nó thar a cheann;
(e) a cheangal ar chonraitheoirí craolacháin fuaime agus ar an gconraitheoir seirbhíse clár teilifíse comhoibriú leis an nGarda Síochána, le húdaráis áitiúla agus le boird sláinte chun faisnéis ábhartha a scaipeadh ar an bpobal i gcás éigeandálaí tromchúiseacha.
(11) Fad a mhairfidh aon éigeandáil arna fógairt faoi alt 10 den Acht Radio-Thelegrafaíochta, 1926, féadfaidh an tAire aon cheadúnas a eisíodh faoi fho-alt (3) a chur ar fionraí agus, fad a leanfaidh aon fhionraí den sórt sin, feadfaidh an tAire aon seirbhís a bhí á cur ar fáil faoin gceadúnas fionraithe a oibriú nó féadfaidh sé a cheangal an tseirbhís sin a oibriú de réir mar a ordóidh sé.
CUID III
Seirbhísí Craolacháin Fuaime
Iarratais ar chonarthaí craolacháin fuaime.
5.—(1) D'fhonn forbairt rianúil ar sheirbhísí craolacháin fuaime a áirithiú agus, ag féachaint do na minicíochtaí raidió atá ar fáil le haghaidh craoladh fuaime, chun go mbunófaí éagsúlacht seirbhísí i limistéar chun freastal ar réimse fairsing ábhar is díol spéise do dhaoine, lena n-áirítear ábhair is díol spéise do leasanna mionlaigh, déanfaidh an Coimisiún a luaithe is féidir tar éis a bhunaithe, agus féadfaidh sé ó am go ham dá éis sin, trí fhógra a fhoilsiú i gceann amháin ar a laghad de na nuachtáin náisiúnta, cuireadh a thabhairt chun spéis a nochtadh i ngnóthú conarthaí le haghaidh seirbhísí craolacháin fuaime faoin Acht seo. Leagfar amach go ginearálta i nochtadh spéise den sórt sin cén cineál seirbhíse a chuirfí ar fáil agus ní ghlacfar leis gur iarratas ar chonradh craolacháin fuaime é.
(2) Tabharfaidh an Coimisiún tuarascáil don Aire faoina bhfuil faighte amach aige faoi fho-alt (1) agus, tar éis don Aire an tuarascáil a bhreithniú agus tar éis dó dul i gcomhairle leis an gCoimisiún, sonróidh sé an limistéar (a bhféadfaidh an Stát uile nó aon chuid den Stát a bheith i gceist ann) a ndéanfar iarratais ar chonradh craolacháin fuaime a lorg i ndáil leis agus déanfaidh an Coimisiún de réir na treorach sin.
(3) Féadfaidh an tAire, ag féachaint don tuarascáil a bheidh tugtha ag an gCoimisiún faoi fho-alt (2) agus ag féachaint do na minicíochtaí raidió a bheidh ar fáil le haghaidh craoladh fuaime, teorainn a chur leis an líon limistéar a fhéadfaidh sé a shonrú faoin bhfo-alt sin.
(4) Déanfaidh an Coimisiún, faoi réir fhorálacha an Achta seo, iarratais a lorg ar chonradh craolacháin fuaime chun seirbhís craolacháin fuaime a chur ar fáil i ngach limistéar a bheidh sonraithe ag an Aire faoi fho-alt (2) agus féadfaidh sé, faoi réir fhorálacha an Achta seo, conarthaí den sórt sin a dhéanamh.
(5) I gcás go lorgóidh an Coimisiún iarratais ar chonradh craolacháin fuaime chun seirbhís craolacháin fuaime a chur ar fáil, sonróidh sé, trí fhógra poiblí, an limistéar ar i ndáil leis a dhéanfar an tseirbhís craolacháin fuaime a chur ar fáil de bhun an chonartha sin, agus tabharfaidh sé, tríd an bhfógra sin, cuireadh do dhaoine ar spéis leo seirbhís den sórt sin a chur ar fáil cur isteach ar an gconradh sin.
(6) Ag féachaint dá mbeidh faighte amach ag an gCoimisiún faoi fho-alt (1) féadfaidh an Coimisiún, le linn dóibh breithniú a dhéanamh ar iarratais go ndeonófaí conradh craolacháin fuaime, béim níos mó a chur ar cheann amháin nó níos mó de na critéir a shonraítear in alt 6 (2) den Acht seo agus aon uair a bheartaíonn an Coimisiún déanamh amhlaidh, cuirfidh sé a bhfuil beartaithe aige in iúl go sonrach do gach duine a thug le fios go bhfuil ar intinn aige cur isteach ar chonradh.
(7) Maidir le gach fógra faoi fho-alt (5)—
(a) foilseofar é i nuachtán náisiúnta amháin ar a laghad agus, más cuí, i nuachtán áitiúil amháin a léitear sa limistéar ar a mbeifear chun freastal;
(b) sonrófar ann an nós imeachta a bheidh le leanúint d'fhonn iarratas a dhéanamh;
(c) sonrófar ann aon nithe eile is dóigh leis an gCoimisiún is gá nó is iomchuí.
Cinneadh ar iarratais go ndeonófaí conarthaí craolacháin fuaime.
6.—(1) Déanfaidh an Coimisiún, de réir fhorálacha an Achta seo, breithniú ar gach iarratas ar chonradh craolacháin fuaime a bheidh faighte aige de bhun fógra faoi alt 5 (5) d'fhonn a chinneadh cé hé an t-iarratasóir is oiriúnaí, más ann, chun conradh craolacháin fuaime a dheonú dó.
(2) Le linn don Choimisiún na hiarratais a bheidh faighte aige a bhreithniú agus le linn dó an t-iarratasóir is oiriúnaí a chinneadh chun conradh craolacháin fuaime a dheonú dó, beidh aird ag an gCoimisiún ar na nithe seo a leanas—
(a) carachtar an iarratasóra nó, más comhlacht corpraithe an t-iarratasóir, carachtar an chomhlachta agus na stiúrthóirí, an bhainisteora, an rúnaí, nó oifigigh eile den sórt sin de chuid an chomhlachta sin agus carachtar na gcomhaltaí den chomhlacht sin agus na ndaoine a bhfuil teideal acu chuig úinéireacht thairbhiúil a chuid scaireanna;
(b) leordhóthanacht an tsaineolais agus na taithí agus na n-acmhainní airgeadais a bheidh ar fáil do gach iarratasóir agus a mhéid a bheidh an t-iarratas ag teacht le dea-phrionsabail eacnamaíochta;
(c) cáilíocht, réimse agus cineál na gclár a bheartaíonn gach iarratasóir, nó mura mbeidh ann ach iarratasóir amháin, an t-iarratasóir sin, a chur ar fáil;
(d) líon, cáilíocht, réimse agus cineál na gclár Gaeilge agus réim na gclár i ndáil le cultúr na hÉireann a bheartaítear a chur ar fáil;
(e) a mhéid a dhéanfaidh an t-iarratasóir, laistigh den tseirbhís craolacháin fuaime atá beartaithe, deiseanna nua a chruthú d'Éireannaigh a bhfuil buanna acu sa cheol, sa drámaíocht agus sa tsiamsaíocht;
(f) a inmhianaithe atá sé éagsúlacht seirbhísí a bheith ar fáil sa limistéar a bheidh sonraithe san fhógra faoi alt 5 (5) chun freastal ar réimse fairsing ábhar is díol spéise do dhaoine, lena n-áirítear ábhair is díol spéise do leasanna mionlaigh;
(g) a inmhianaithe atá sé ligean d'aon duine, nó d'aon ghrúpa daoine, rialú a bheith aige nó acu ar líon as cuimse de na seirbhísí craolacháin fuaime, nó leasanna substaintiúla a bheith aige nó acu iontu, ar seirbhísí iad a mbeidh conradh craolacháin fuaime deonaithe faoin Acht seo ina leith;
(h) a inmhianaithé atá sé ligean d'aon duine, nó d'aon ghrúpa daoine, rialú a bheith aige nó acu ar mhéid as cuimse de na meáin chumarsáide, nó leasanna substaintiúla a bheith aige nó acu iontu, sa limistéar a bheidh sonraithe san fhógra faoi alt 5 (5);
(i) a mhéid a dhéanann an tseirbhís bheartaithe—
(i) freastal ar phobail is inaitheanta mar phobail áitiúla agus a mhéid atá tacaíocht aici ó na leasanna éagsúla sa phobal, nó
(ii) freastal ar phobail chomhleasa, agus
(j) aon nithe eile is dóigh leis an gCoimisiún is gá chun forbairt rianúil ar sheirbhísí craolacháin fuaime a áirithiú.
(3) Le linn don Choimisiún breithniú a dhéanamh ar oiriúnacht aon iarratasóra chun conradh craolacháin fuaime a dheonú dó le seirbhís craolacháin fuaime a chur ar fáil maidir le limistéar a bhfuil limistéar Gaeltachta ar áireamh ann, beidh aird ar leith ag an gCoimisiún ar chaomhnú na Gaeilge mar theanga labhartha.
Ceadúnas le haghaidh tarchuradóra craolacháin fuaime a athrú.
7.—(1) Más dóigh leis an Aire gur gá déanamh amhlaidh mar gheall ar aon cheann de na cúiseanna a shonraítear i bhfo-alt (2), féadfaidh sé aon téarma nó coinníoll a bheidh i gceadúnas arna eisiúint de bhun alt 4 (3) a athrú.
(2) Féadfaidh an tAire aon téarma nó coinníoll a bheidh i gceadúnas arna eisiúint faoi alt 4 (3) a athrú—
(a) más dealraitheach dó gur gá déanamh amhlaidh ar mhaithe le dea-bhainisteoireacht na minicíochtaí raidió;
(b) d'fhonn éifeacht a thabhairt d'aon chomhaontú idirnáisiúnta ar páirtí ann an Stát, ar comhaontú é a bheidh daingnithe ag an Stát agus a bhaineann le craoladh fuaime;
(c) más dealraitheach dó gurb é leas an phobail déanamh amhlaidh;
(d) más dealraitheach dó gur gá déanamh amhlaidh ar mhaithe le sábháilteacht nó slándáil daoine nó maoine;
(e) ar an gCoimisiún dá iarraidh sin tar éis dóibh dul i gcomhairle le haon chonraitheoir craolacháin fuaime ar a bhfearann sé;
(f) ar an gCoimisiún dá iarraidh sin thar ceann conraitheora craolacháin fuaime.
(3) (a) Má bheartaíonn an tAire, ar aon chúis a shonraítear i mír (a), (b) nó (c) d'fho-alt (2), athrú a dhéanamh, de bhun an ailt seo, ar aon téarma nó coinníoll a bheidh i gceadúnas arna eisiúint de bhun alt 4 (3), tabharfaidh sé scéala don Choimisiún, trí fhógra i scríbhinn, faoina bhfuil beartaithe aige agus faoi na cúiseanna atá leis sin agus déanfaidh an Coimisiún, laistigh de 7 lá tar éis dó an scéala sin a fháil, fógra dá réir sin a thabhairt don chonraitheoir craolacháin fuaime.
(b) Beidh de cheart ag an gconraitheoir craolacháin fuaime uiríll a dhéanamh i scríbhinn chuig an gCoimisiún maidir lena bhfuil beartaithe ag an Aire, laistigh de 21 lá tar éis don Choimisiún an fógra a sheirbheáil.
(c) Cuirfidh an Coimisiún aon uiríll den sórt sin ar aghaidh chuig an Aire laistigh de 7 lá eile dá éis sin agus féadfaidh an tAire, tar éis dó na huiríll a bhreithniú, cibé cinneadh a dhéanamh ina dtaobh is dóigh leis is cuí.
(4) (a) Más rud é, tar éis dó breithniú a dhéanamh ar na huiríll (más ann) a bheidh curtha in iúl dó ag an gCoimisiún agus a bheidh déanta ag conraitheoir craolacháin fuaime nó thar a cheann, go gcinnfidh an tAire aon téarma nó coinníoll i gceadúnas a athrú, tabharfaidh sé scéala don Choimisiún, trí fhógra i scríbhinn, faoin gcinneadh aige.
(b) Tabharfaidh an Coimisiún, laistigh de 7 lá tar éis cinneadh an Aire a fháil, fógra i scríbhinn don chonraitheoir craolacháin fuaime faoin gcinneadh sin.
(c) Ar an agus ón lá i ndiaidh an lae a ndéanfar fógra faoi chinneadh an Aire a sheirbheáil ar an gconraitheoir, beidh éifeacht leis an gceadúnas faoi réir an athraithe air a dhéanfar leis an gcinneadh sin.
(5) Féadfar fógra faoi fho-alt (3) nó (4) a sheirbheáil ar an gCoimisiún agus féadfaidh an Coimisiún é a sheirbheáil ar chonraitheoir craolacháin fuaime trína fhágáil ag seoladh an Choimisiúin nó trína chur leis an bpost réamhíoctha chuig an seoladh sin, agus trína fhágáil ag, nó trína chur leis an bpost réamhíoctha chuig, an seoladh is déanaí is eol a bheith ag an gconraitheoir craolacháin fuaime, faoi seach, nó más rud é, sa chás deiridh sin, gur cuideachta an conraitheoir craolacháin fuaime, trína fhágáil ag oifig chláraithe na cuideachta nó trína chur leis an bpost réamhíoctha chuig an oifig sin.
Conarthaí le haghaidh seirbhísí craolacháin fuaime sealadacha nó institiúideacha.
8.—(1) Féadfaidh an Coimisiún, in aon tréimhse dhá mhí dhéag, conradh craolacháin fuaime a dhéanamh le hiarratasóir air sin chun go gcuirfí seirbhís craolacháin fuaime ar fáil, i cibé limistéar a bheidh sonraithe sa chonradh, ar feadh tréimhse nach faide ná ceithre lá dhéag (cibé acu is laethanta as a chéile nó nach ea) sa tréimhse dhá mhí dhéag sin.
(2) Féadfaidh an Coimisiún conradh craolacháin fuaime a dhéanamh le hiarratasóir air sin chun go gcuirfí seirbhís craolacháin fuaime ísealchumhachta ar fáil, nach mbeidh ceaptha dó ach freastal a dhéanamh ar cibé institiúid oideachais amháin, ospidéal amháin, nó foras amháin eile dá samhail, a bheidh sonraithe sa chonradh.
(3) Ní bheidh feidhm ag alt 9 (1) (c) maidir le conradh a dheonófar chun seirbhís craolacháin fuaime a chur ar fáil faoin alt seo.
(4) Ní bheidh feidhm ag ailt 5 agus 6 i gcás conradh chun seirbhís craolacháin fuaime a chur ar fáil a gcuirfear isteach air, nó a dheonófar, faoin alt seo.
Dualgas conraitheora craolacháin fuaime i ndáil le cláir.
9.—(1) Áiritheoidh gach conraitheoir craolacháin fuaime—
(a) go ndéanfar an nuacht go léir a chraolfaidh sé, a thuairisciú agus a chur i láthair go hoibiachtúil agus go neamhchlaonta gan aon tuairimí dá chuid féin a nochtadh;
(b) go ndéanfar, nuair a bheifear ag déileáil i gcraolacháin le cúrsaí reatha, lena n-áirítear ábhair is ábhair chonspóide poiblí nó is ábhair díospóireachta poiblí i láthair na huaire, cothrom na féinne a thabhairt do na leasanna uile lena mbaineann agus go gcuirfear an t-ábhar craolacháin i láthair go hoibiachtúil agus go neamhchlaonta gan aon tuairimí dá chuid féin a nochtadh: Ar choinníoll, i gcás nach mbeidh sé indéanta an mhír seo a chur i bhfeidhm i ndáil le haon chraolachán aonair, go bhféadfar a mheas gur aonad amháin dhá chraolachán ghaolmhara nó níos mó, má tharchuirtear na craolacháin laistigh de thréimhse réasúnach óna chéile;
(c) go ndéanfar, ar a laghad—
(i) méid nach lú ná 20 faoin gcéad den am craolacháin, agus
(ii) má chuirtear an tseirbhís craolacháin fuaime ar fáil ar feadh breis agus 12 uair an chloig in aon lá amháin, dhá uair an chloig den am craolacháin idir 07.00 uaire agus 19.00 uaire,
a chaitheamh ag craoladh clár nuachta agus clár cúrsaí reatha; ar choinníoll nach n-údaraíonn an Coimisiún maolú ar an bhforáil seo faoi alt 15;
(d) nach gcraolfaidh sé aon ní a bhféadfaí a mheas le réasún gur ní é a ghoilleann ar chaoinbhéasa nó ar chuibheas nó gur dóigh dó coireacht a chur chun cinn nó a ghríosú nó gur de ghné é a dhéanfadh dochar d'údarás an Stáit;
(e) nach ndéanfar, i gcláir a chraolfaidh sé agus sna modhanna a úsáidfear chun na cláir sin a dhéanamh, cúngú míréasúnach ar phríobháideachas aon phearsan aonair.
(2) Ní choiscfidh aon ní i bhfo-alt (1) (a) nó (1) (b) ar chonraitheoir craolacháin fuaime craolacháin páirtithe polaitíochta a tharchur: Ar choinníoll nach ndéanfaidh conraitheoir craolacháin fuaime, le linn dó an t-am le haghaidh craolacháin den sórt sin a leithroinnt, tosaíocht mhíchothrom a thabhairt d'aon pháirtí polaitíochta.
(3) Tarraingeoidh an Coimisiún suas cód a rialóidh caighdeáin agus cleachtas (dá ngairtear cód cleachtais anseo ina dhiaidh seo) i ndáil le haon ní a shonraítear i bhfo-ailt (1) agus (2), agus féadfaidh sé ó am go ham, de réir mar is gá sa chás, é a athmheas.
(4) Aon uair a tharraingeoidh an Coimisiún suas, de bhun fho-alt (3), cód cleachtais a bhaineann leis an ábhar a bheidh i gceist, déanfaidh gach conraitheoir craolacháin fuaime de réir an chóid sin agus de réir aon athmheasa air.
Fógráin.
10.—(1) Féadfar fógráin a chur isteach i gcláir a chraolfar ar sheirbhís craolacháin fuaime a chuirfear ar fáil de bhun aon chonartha craolacháin fuaime.
(2) Tarraingeoidh an Coimisiún suas, ó am go ham de réir mar is cuí leis, cód a rialóidh caighdeáin agus cleachtas i gcúrsaí fógraíochta agus déanfaidh gach conraitheoir craolacháin fuaime de réir an chóid maidir le fógráin a chraolfaidh sé.
(3) Ní chraolfar aon fhógrán a mbeidh aon chuspóir creidimh nó polaitíochta ag gabháil leis nó a mbeidh aon bhaint aige le díospóid tionscail.
(4) Na hamanna iomlána in aghaidh an lae chun fógráin a chraoladh ar sheirbhís craolacháin fuaime a chuirfear ar fáil de bhun conartha craolacháin fuaime, ní rachaidh siad thar 15 faoin gcéad ar a mhéid den am iomlán craolacháin in aghaidh an lae agus ní mó ná deich nóiméad ar a mhéid an t-uasmhéid ama a thabharfar d'fhógráin in aon uair an chloig.
(5) San alt seo, forléireofar tagairtí d'fhógráin mar thagairtí a fholaíonn tagairtí d'ábhar fógraíochta i gcláir faoi choimirce, is é sin le rá, cláir arna soláthar ag fógróir nó thar ceann fógróra chun críocha fógraíochta.
(6) Beidh sé de dhualgas ar an gCoimisiún a áirithiú go ndéanfaidh conraitheoirí craolacháin fuaime de réir cheanglais fho-ailt (2), (3) agus (4).
Gearáin ón bpobal.
11.—(1) Déanfaidh conraitheoir craolacháin fuaime leorbhreithniú cuí ar aon ghearán, nach gearán suaibhreosach nó cráiteach, a dhéanfaidh ball den phobal maidir leis an tseirbhís craolacháin fuaime a chuireann an conraitheoir ar fáil agus coimeádfaidh sé, fad a bheidh a chonradh i bhfeidhm, taifid chearta chuí ar na gearáin sin go léir agus ar aon fhreagra a tugadh orthu nó ar aon ghníomh a rinneadh ar scór na ngearán sin.
(2) Déanfaidh conraitheoir craolacháin fuaime, má iarrann an Coimisiún air é, na taifid go léir a bheidh á gcoimeád aige de bhun fho-alt (1) a chur ar fáil don Choimisiún lena n-iniúchadh.
(3) Féadfaidh an tAire a ordú, le rialacháin, go ndéanfaidh an Coimisiún um Ghearáin Chraolacháin a bunaíodh faoi alt 18A (a cuireadh isteach leis an Acht um Údarás Craolacháin (Leasú), 1976) den Acht um Údarás Craolacháin, 1960, fiosrú ar ghearáin a dhéanfaidh baill den phobal maidir le seirbhís craolacháin fuaime a chuirfear ar fáil faoin Acht seo.
(4) Chun críocha fiosraithe ag an gCoimisiún um Ghearáin Chraolacháin de bhun rialachán faoin alt seo—
(a) beidh éifeacht leis an Acht um Údarás Craolacháin, 1960, faoi réir na modhnuithe seo a leanas—
(i) déanfar tagairt in ailt 18B agus 18C (a cuireadh isteach leis an Acht um Údarás Craolacháin (Leasú), 1976) seachas in alt 18B (1) (e), don Údarás a fhorléiriú mar thagairt don chonraitheoir craolacháin fuaime lena mbaineann;
(ii) déanfar tagairt in alt 18B (7) (a cuireadh isteach amhlaidh) don Údarás a fhorléiriú mar thagairt don chonraitheoir craolacháin fuaime lena mbaineann agus don Choimisiún arna bhunú leis an Acht seo;
(iii) déanfar tagairt in alt 18B (a cuireadh isteach amhlaidh) d'alt 18 (1), d'alt 18 (1A) nó d'alt 18 (1B) den Acht um Údarás Craolacháin, 1960, a fhorléiriú mar thagairt d'alt 9;
(iv) déanfar tagairt in alt 18B (a cuireadh isteach amhlaidh) do ghearán gur sháraigh fógrán cód a d'ullmhaigh Radio Telefís Éireann do rialú caighdeán fógraíochta craolta nó do thoirmeasc modhanna áirithe fógraíochta i gcraolacháin nó fógraíocht a chraoladh in imthosca áirithe, a fhorléiriú mar thagairt d'alt 10 (2);
(v) déanfar tagairt in alt 18B (a cuireadh isteach amhlaidh) d'alt 31 (1) den Acht um Údarás Craolacháin, 1960, a fhorléiriú mar thagairt d'alt 12.
(b) Beidh éifeacht le halt 6 den Acht um Údarás Craolacháin (Leasú), 1976, ionann is dá mba thagairt don chonraitheoir craolacháin fuaime lena mbaineann, tagairt san alt sin don Údarás.
Feidhm orduithe faoi alt 31 (1) den Acht um Údarás Craolacháin, 1960.
12.—Gach ordú arna thabhairt ag an Aire do Radio Telefís Éireann de bhun alt 31 (1) den Acht um Údarás Craolacháin, 1960, agus a bheidh i bhfeidhm ar dháta tosach feidhme an Achta seo nó a thabharfaidh sé tar éis an tosach feidhme sin, beidh feidhm aige, fad a leanfaidh an t-ordú i bhfeidhm, maidir le seirbhís craolacháin fuaime arna cur ar fáil de bhun conartha craolacháin fuaime agus déanfaidh conraitheoir craolacháin fuaime dá réir ionann is dá mba gur dósan a tugadh an t-ordú agus déanfar an t-alt sin 31 (1) a fhorléiriú, agus beidh éifeacht leis, dá réir sin.
Gnóthaí conraitheora craolacháin fuaime a fhiosrú.
13.—(1) Féadfaidh an Coimisiún, ar aon cheann de na cúiseanna i bhfo-alt (2), fiosrúchán a dhéanamh ar ghnóthaí oibríochta, clár, airgeadais, teicniúla nó eile de chuid conraitheora craolacháin fuaime agus comhoibreoidh an conraitheoir craolacháin fuaime leis in aon fhiosrúchán den sórt sin.
(2) Féadfaidh an Coimisiún fiosrúchán faoin alt seo a dhéanamh, nó aon duine eile a cheapadh chun fiosrúchán faoin alt seo a dhéanamh—
(a) má tá forais réasúnacha aige chun a chreidiúint nach bhfuil seirbhís craolacháin fuaime á cur ar fáil ag an gconraitheoir craolacháin fuaime de réir théarmaí a chonartha; nó
(b) más rud é, mar gheall ar an gcaoi a bhfuil an tseirbhís craolacháin fuaime á hoibriú—
(i) go bhfuil trasnaíocht á déanamh ar oibriú aon ghairis le haghaidh raidió-theileagrafaíochta a mbeidh ceadúnas faoin Acht seo nó faoi aon Acht eile deonaithe, agus i bhfeidhm, ina leith, nó ar aon ghaireas le haghaidh raidió-theileagrafaíochta atá á chothabháil agus á oibriú go dleathach d'uireasa ceadúnas den sórt sin, nó
(ii) go bhfuil dochar á dhéanamh aici d'aon ghaireas le haghaidh raidió-theileagrafaíochta dá dtagraítear i bhfomhír (i).
(3) Íocfaidh an conraitheoir craolacháin fuaime lena mbaineann, na caiteachais go léir a thabhófar le réasún i ndáil le fiosrúchán faoin alt seo a dhéanfaidh an Coimisiún nó aon duine a bheidh ceaptha faoi fho-alt (2).
(4) (a) Más dóigh leis an gCoimisiún gur gá nó gurb inmhianaithe déanamh amhlaidh, féadfaidh sé a cheangal ar chonraitheoir craolacháin fuaime suirbhé taighde margaidh a sheoladh (agus is duine a bheidh ceadaithe ag an gCoimisiún a sheolfaidh an tsuirbhé taighde margaidh sin).
(b) Beidh ag suirbhé taighde margaidh a sheolfar de bhun mhír (a) cibé fairsinge is dóigh leis an gCoimisiún a bheith réasúnach, ag féachaint do mhéid agus do chineál na seirbhíse craolacháin fuaime a bheidh á cur ar fáil ag an gconraitheoir craolacháin fuaime.
(c) Is é a bheidh i suirbhé taighde margaidh a sheolfar de bhun cheanglas an Choimisiúin faoin bhfo-alt seo, suirbhé ar fhreagairt an lucht éisteachta ar an tseirbhís craolacháin a bheidh á cur ar fáil ag an gconraitheoir craolacháin fuaime lena mbaineann, nó ar aon ghné ar leith den tseirbhís sin.
(d) Tabharfaidh conraitheoir craolacháin fuaime don Choimisiún torthaí aon suirbhé taighde margaidh a bheidh seolta i gcomhlíonadh ceanglais ón gCoimisiún faoin bhfo-alt seo.
Téarmaí agus coinníollacha conartha craolacháin fuaime.
14.—(1) Beidh i ngach conradh craolacháin fuaime cibé téarmaí agus coinníollacha is dóigh leis an gCoimisiún is iomchuí agus a shonróidh sé sa chonradh.
(2) Gan dochar do ghinearáltacht fho-alt (1), féadfaidh an Coimisiún gach ceann nó aon cheann de na téarmaí nó na coinníollacha seo a leanas a shonrú i gconradh craolacháin fuaime:
(a) an tréimhse a leanfaidh an conradh i bhfeidhm;
(b) cibé acu an féidir an conradh a athnuachan agus, más féidir, an chaoi inar féidir, na téarmaí ar ar féidir, agus an tréimhse dar féidir an conradh a athnuachan amhlaidh;
(c) coinníoll á thoirmeasc an conradh, nó aon leas ann, a shannadh;
(d) más cuideachta an conraitheoir craolacháin fuaime, coinníoll á thoirmeasc aon athrú a dhéanamh ar Mheabhrán nó Airteagail Chomhlachais na cuideachta nó ar cibé cuid den Mheabhrán sin nó de na hAirteagail sin a bheidh sonraithe, nó á thoirmeasc aon athrú ábhartha a dhéanamh ar úinéireacht na cuideachta;
(e) coinníoll á cheangal ar an gconraitheoir craolacháin fuaime an cháilíocht, an réimse agus an cineál clár a chur ar fáil a bheartaigh sé a thairiscint san iarratas a rinne sé ar an gconradh a dheonú dó.
(3) Mura mbeidh coinníoll den chineál a shonraítear i mír (c) nó (d) d'fho-alt (2) ar áireamh i gconradh craolacháin fuaime, beidh éifeacht leis na forálacha seo a leanas:
(a) ní bheidh conradh craolacháin fuaime, nó aon leas i gconradh craolacháin fuaime, insannta, ná ní dhéanfar aon athrú ar Mheabhrán nó Airteagail Chomhlachais aon chuideachta ar conraitheoir craolacháin fuaime í, ná ní bheidh aon athrú ábhartha ar úinéireacht cuideachta den sórt sin, gan toiliú roimh ré i scríbhinn ón gCoimisiún, agus féadfaidh an Coimisiún, más dóigh leis gur réasúnach déanamh amhlaidh, diúltú an toiliú sin a thabhairt;
(b) le linn dó breithniú a dhéanamh ar chóir a thoiliú a thabhairt le sannadh ar chonradh craolacháin fuaime, le hathrú ar Mheabhrán nó Airteagail Chomhlachais cuideachta ar conraitheoir craolacháin fuaime í, nó le hathrú ábhartha ar úinéireacht cuideachta den sórt sin, beidh aird ag an gCoimisiún ar na critéir a shonraítear in alt 6 (2) agus, i gcás inarb infheidhme é, in alt 6 (3).
(4) Déanfar i ngach conradh craolacháin fuaime—
(a) a fhoráil go bhféadfaidh an Coimisiún, dá rogha féin, an conradh a fhionraí nó a fhoirceannadh—
(i) má bhí aon fhaisnéis a thug an conraitheoir craolacháin fuaime don Choimisiún, nó a tugadh don Choimisiún thar a cheann, sula ndearnadh an conradh, bréagach nó míthreorach,
(ii) má tá sáruithe tromaí nó sáruithe leanúnacha déanta, i dtuairim an Choimisiúin, ag an gconraitheoir craolacháin fuaime ar a oibleagáidí faoin gconradh craolacháin fuaime nó faoin Acht seo;
(b) a fhoráil go n-íocfaidh conraitheoir craolacháin fuaime leis an gCoimisiún na táillí, an sciar dá bhrabúis nó na ríchíosanna a bheidh sonraithe ann;
(c) a fhoráil go gcuirfidh an conraitheoir craolacháin fuaime cibé faisnéis ar fáil (lena n-áirítear cóipeanna dá chuntais) a mheasfaidh an Coimisiún a bheidh ag teastáil uaidh d'fhonn a chumasú don Choimisiún a fheidhmeanna faoin Acht seo a chomhlíonadh.
(5) Beidh gach conradh craolacháin fuaime ar fáil lena iniúchadh ag baill den phobal in oifig chláraithe an Choimisiúin agus déanfaidh an Coimisiún, ar iarraidh a bheith déanta ag aon duine agus ar cibé suim (más ann), a iarrfaidh an Coimisiún le réasún, a bheith íoctha, cóip den chonradh sin a thabhairt don duine sin.
Maolú ar cheanglais a bhaineann le cláir nuachta agus cúrsaí reatha.
15.—D'ainneoin alt 9 (1) (c), féadfaidh an Coimisiún maolú iomlán nó páirteach a údarú ar an gceanglas atá i gceist i gcás seirbhísí craolacháin fuaime a ndéanann sé conradh chun iad a chur ar fáil in aon limistéar chun freastal d'ábhair spéise sonracha ar leith, ar choinníoll gur deimhin leis go bhfuil ilfhoinsí réasúnacha clár nuachta agus cúrsaí reatha ar fáil don phobal áirithe ó sheirbhísí craolacháin fuaime eile.
Comhar le Radio Telefís Éireann in úsáid suiteála craolacháin.
16.—(1) Féadfaidh an tAire, ar iarraidh ón gCoimisiún agus tar éis dul i gcomhairle le Radio Telefís Éireann, a cheangal ar Radio Telefís Éireann dul i gcomhar le conraitheoirí craolacháin fuaime in úsáid aon chrainn, túir, láithreáin nó suiteála nó saoráide eile a bheidh ag teastáil i ndáil le saoráidí tarchuradóireachta a chur ar fáil le haghaidh seirbhísí craolacháin fuaime a bheidh le bunú faoin Acht seo.
(2) Déanfaidh conraitheoir craolacháin fuaime cibé íocaíochtaí tréimhsiúla nó íocaíochtaí eile le Radio Telefís Éireann i leith aon saoráidí a chuirfear ar fáil de bhun fho-alt (1) agus a ordóidh an tAire, tar éis dó dul i gcomhairle le Radio Telefís Éireann agus leis an gCoimisiún.
CUID IV
Seirbhís Clár Teilifíse
Iarratais ar chonradh seirbhíse clár teilifíse.
17.—Déanfaidh an Coimisiún, ar an Aire á ordú dó déanamh amhlaidh, iarratais a lorg ar chonradh seirbhíse clár teilifíse chun seirbhís clár teilifíse a chur ar fáil a leathfar trí úsáid a bhaint as acmhainn bealaí ar chórais leaschraolta sreinge agus ar chórais atarchuir clár teilifíse a bheidh ceadúnaithe faoi rialacháin arna ndéanamh faoi alt 6 den Acht Radio-Thelegrafaíochta, 1926.
Feidhm fhorálacha áirithe de Chuid III maidir le conradh seirbhíse clár teilifíse.
18.—(1) Na forálacha de Chuid III den Acht seo, seachas ailt 7, 8 agus 15, a bhaineann le cumhachtaí, dualgais, feidhmeanna, oibleagáidí agus freagrachtaí an Aire, an Choimisiúin agus conraitheoirí craolacháin fuaime, faoi seach, beidh feidhm acu maidir leis an gconradh seirbhíse clár teilifíse a dhéanfaidh an Coimisiún agus leis an tseirbhís clár teilifíse a chuirfear ar fáil faoin gCuid seo, agus déanfar aon tagairt i gCuid III den Acht seo do chonraitheoir craolacháin fuaime a fhorléiriú, chun críocha na Coda seo, mar thagairt don chonraitheoir seirbhíse clár teilifíse.
(2) D'ainneoin ghinearáltacht fho-alt (1) ní bheidh feidhm ag alt 9 (1) (c) i gcás na seirbhíse clár teilifíse a chuirfear ar fáil faoin gconradh seirbhíse clár teilifíse.
(3) Áiritheoidh an Coimisiún maidir leis an tseirbhís clár teilifíse a chuirfear ar fáil faoin Acht seo go mbeidh sí mar a leanas i leith a cuid clár—
(a) beidh aird aici ar leasanna agus ar chúraimí an phobail uile, coimeádfaidh sí i gcuimhne a riachtanaí atá comhthuiscint agus síocháin ar fud oileán na hÉireann uile, cinnteoidh sí go léireoidh na cláir na hairíonna éagsúla dá bhfuil cultúr phobal oileán na hÉireann uile comhdhéanta, agus beidh cás ar leith aici do na hairíonna a shainíonn an cultúr sin agus go háirithe don Ghaeilge;
(b) tacóidh sí leis an bhfiúchas daonlathach atá cumhdaithe sa Bhunreacht, go háirithe mar a bhaineann leis an tsaoirse cheart tuairimí a nochtadh;
(c) beidh aird aici ar a riachtanaí atá sé an pobal a dhéanamh eolach tuisceanach ar fhiúchas agus ar thraidisiúin tíortha seachas an Stát, go háirithe na tíortha sin is comhaltaí den Chomhphobal Eorpach; agus
(d) beidh cion réasúnach de chláir nuachta agus cúrsaí reatha inti;
agus comhlíonfaidh an conraitheoir seirbhíse clár teilifíse aon cheanglas ón gCoimisiún i ndáil leis na nithe sin.
(4) D'fhonn a áirithiú go gcomhlíonfar fo-alt (3), áiritheoidh an Coimisiún go ndéanfar cion réasúnach den tseirbhís clár—
(a) a tháirgeadh sa Stát nó i mBallstát eile de na Comhphobail Eorpacha, agus
(b) a chaitheamh ar ábhar clár bunúil a tháirgfear sa Stát nó i mBallstát ag daoine seachas an conraitheoir, a fhochuideachta, a mháthairchuideachta nó eagraíochtaí craolacháin láithreacha.
CUID V
Ilghnéitheach
Leasú ar an Acht Radio-Thelegrafaíochta, 1926.
19.—Leasaítear leis seo alt 2 den Acht Radio-Thelegrafaíochta, 1926, tríd an míniú seo a leanas a chur in ionad an mhínithe ar “foirleatha” san alt sin
“ciallaíonn ‘foirleatha’ tarchur, leaschraoladh nó leathadh a dhéanamh, trí raidió-theileagrafaíocht, ar chumarsáidí, fuaimeanna, síneacha, amharc-íomhánna nó comharthaí a bhfuil sé beartaithe go nglacfar go díreach iad ag an bpobal i gcoitinne, cibé acu a ghlactar nó nach nglactar na cumarsáidí, na fuaimeanna, na síneacha, na hamharc-íomhánna nó na comharthaí sin iarbhír;”.
Méideanna a bheidh le híoc ag an Aire leis an gCoimisiún.
20.—(1) Féadfaidh an tAire, le ceadú an Aire Airgeadais, cibé méid is dóigh leis a bheith réasúnach a íoc leis an gCoimisiún i leith costais bhunaidh an Choimisiúin maidir le gach bliain ar leith den dá bhliain airgeadais chomhleanúnacha dar tosach an bhliain a dtiteann an lá bunaithe inti.
(2) Ní rachaidh na méideanna a íocfar de bhun fho-alt (1) thar £500,000 san iomlán.
(3) Déanfar na méideanna a íocfar leis an gCoimisiún de bhun fho-alt (1) maidir le bliain lena mbaineann an fo-alt sin a asbhaint ó na fáltais a thig an bhliain sin ó tháillí ceadúnais leaschraolta sreinge agus modhnófar dá réir sin alt 8 (b) den Acht um Údarás Craolacháin (Leasú), 1976, a dhéanann foráil maidir le hairgead a íoc as fáltais den sórt sin le Radio Telefís Éireann.
Caiteachais.
21.—Déanfar na caiteachais a thabhóidh an tAire ag riaradh an Achta seo a íoc, a mhéid a cheadóidh an tAire Airgeadais, as airgead a sholáthróidh an tOireachtas.
AN SCEIDEAL
1. (1) Is é an Rialtas a cheapfaidh comhaltaí an Choimisiúin agus ní lú ná seachtar ná ní mó ná deichniúr a líon.
(2) Is é a bheidh i dtréimhse oifige comhalta den Choimisiún cibé tréimhse, nach faide ná cúig bliana, a chinnfidh an Rialtas tráth a cheaptha.
(3) Féadfar comhalta den Choimisiún a rachaidh a théarma oifige in éag trí imeacht aimsire a athcheapadh.
(4) Féadfaidh comhalta den Choimisiún éirí as a chomhaltas trí litir a bheidh curtha chuig an Rialtas agus glacfaidh an t-éirí-as éifeacht ar an agus ón dáta a gheofar an litir.
(5) Ní cheapfar duine le bheith ina chomhalta den Choimisiún mura mbeidh taithí aige ar chúrsaí na meán cumarsáide nó ar chúrsaí tráchtála, ar innealtóireacht chumarsáidí raidió, ar chúrsaí ceardchumannachais, ar riarachán nó ar ghníomhaíochtaí sóisialta, cultúir, oideachais nó pobail nó mura mbeidh cumas léirithe aige sna cúrsaí sin.
2. (1) Déanfaidh an Rialtas, ó am go ham de réir mar is gá sa chás, comhalta den Choimisiún a cheapadh le bheith ina chathaoirleach ar an gCoimisiún.
(2) Beidh cathaoirleach an Choimisiúin i seilbh oifige, mura túisce a éagfaidh sé, a éireoidh sé as oifig mar chathaoirleach nó a scoirfidh sé de bheith ina chathaoirleach faoi fhomhír (4) den mhír seo, go dtí go mbeidh a thréimhse oifige mar chomhalta den Choimisiún caite.
(3) Féadfaidh cathaoirleach an Choimisiúin tráth ar bith éirí as a oifig mar chathaoirleach trí litir a bheidh curtha chuig an Rialtas agus glacfaidh an t-éirí-as éifeacht an tráth a thosóidh an chéad chruinniú eile den Choimisiún a thionólfar tar éis don Rialtas an t-éirí-as a chur in iúl don Choimisiún.
(4) I gcás go scoirfidh cathaoirleach an Choimisiúin, le linn a théarma oifige mar chathaoirleach, de bheith ina chomhalta den Choimisiún, scoirfidh sé air sin freisin de bheith ina chathaoirleach ar an gCoimisiún.
3. Féadfaidh an Rialtas comhalta den Choimisiún a chur as oifig ar chúiseanna sonraithe más rud é go rithfear rúin sa dá Theach den Oireachtas chun é a chur as oifig agus ar an gcoinníoll sin amháin.
4. (1) Íocfar le comhalta den Choimisiún, as cistí a bheidh faoina réir ag an gCoimisiún—
(a) cibé luach saothair a bheidh socraithe ó am go ham ag an Aire, le toiliú an Aire Airgeadais, agus
(b) cibé méideanna i leith caiteachas is dóigh leis an gCoimisiún, le ceadú an Aire arna thabhairt le toiliú an Aire Airgeadais, a bheith réasúnach.
(2) Faoi réir fhorálacha an Achta seo, beidh comhalta den Choimisiún i seilbh oifige de réir agus faoi réir cibé téarmaí agus coinníollacha a chinnfidh an tAire ó am go ham, le toiliú an Aire Airgeadais.
(3) Cuirfidh an tAire faoi deara go ndéanfar ráiteas i scríbhinn ina sonrófar téarmaí oifige agus luach saothair chomhaltaí an Choimisiúin a leagan faoi bhráid gach Tí den Oireachtas.
5. Aon chomhalta den Choimisiún—
(a) a bhfuil aon leas aige in aon chuideachta nó gnólacht lena mbeartaíonn an Coimisiún aon chonradh a dhéanamh, nó
(b) a bhfuil aon leas aige in aon chonradh a bheartaíonn an Coimisiún a dhéanamh,
nochtfaidh sé don Choimisiún go bhfuil an leas sin aige agus cad é an leas é, agus ní ghlacfaidh sé páirt in aon phlé nó cinneadh ag an gCoimisiún maidir leis an gconradh, agus taifeadfar an nochtadh sin i miontuairiscí an Choimisiúin.
6. (1) Soláthróidh an Coimisiún séala dó féin a luaithe is féidir tar éis a bhunaithe.
(2) Fíordheimhneofar séala an Choimisiúin le síniú chathaoirleach an Choimisiúin nó chomhalta éigin eile den Choimisiún a bheidh údaraithe ag an gCoimisiún chun gníomhú chuige sin mar aon le síniú oifigigh den Choimisiún a bheidh údaraithe ag an gCoimisiún chun gníomhú chuige sin.
(3) Tabharfar aird bhreithiúnach ar shéala an Choimisiúin, agus gach doiciméad a airbheartóidh gur ionstraim é a rinne an Coimisiún agus a bheith séalaithe le séala (a airbheartóidh a bheith fíordheimhnithe de réir na míre seo) an Choimisiúin, glacfar i bhfianaise é agus measfar gurb é an ionstraim sin é gan a thuilleadh cruthúnais mura suífear a mhalairt.
7. (1) Tionólfaidh an Coimisiún cibé cruinnithe agus cibé méid cruinnithe is gá chun a fheidhmeanna a chomhlíonadh go cuí.
(2) Féadfaidh an tAire dáta, am agus ionad chéad chruinniú an Choimisiúin a shocrú.
(3) Faoi réir fhorálacha an Achta seo, rialálfaidh an Coimisiún a nós imeachta le rialacha arna ndéanamh faoin bhfomhír seo.
(4) Ag cruinniú den Choimisiún—
(a) is é cathaoirleach an Choimisiúin, má bhíonn sé i láthair, a bheidh ina chathaoirleach ar an gcruinniú,
(b) mura mbeidh agus fad nach mbeidh an cathaoirleach i láthair nó má bhíonn oifig an chathaoirligh folamh, roghnóidh na comhaltaí den Choimisiún a bheidh i láthair duine dá líon chun bheith ina chathaoirleach ar an gcruinniú.
(5) Cinnfear gach ceist a éireoidh ag cruinniú den Choimisiún le tromlach vótaí na gcomhaltaí a bheidh i láthair agus a vótálfaidh ar an gceist, agus i gcás na vótaí a bheith roinnte go cothrom, beidh an dara vóta nó vóta réitigh ag cathaoirleach an chruinnithe.
(6) Féadfaidh an Coimisiún gníomhú d'ainneoin folúntas nó folúntais i measc a chomhaltaí.
(7) Déanfar an córam do chruinniú den Choimisiún a shocrú le rialacha arna ndéanamh faoi fhomhír (3) den mhír seo, ach—
(a) ní bheidh sé níos lú ná cúigear, agus
(b) go dtí go socrófar amhlaidh é, cúigear a bheidh ann.
8. (1) Déanfaidh an Coimisiún ó am go ham, le ceadú an Aire, duine a cheapadh le bheith ina phríomhoifigeach feidhmiúcháin don Choimisiún agus tabharfar an príomhfheidhmeannach ar an duine sin agus gairtear sin de san Acht seo.
(2) Féadfaidh an Coimisiún, chomh maith leis an bpríomhfheidhmeannach a cheapadh, cibé líon eile daoine a cheapadh le bheith ina gcomhaltaí d'fhoireann an Choimisiúin, agus le fónamh i cibé gráid, a chinnfidh an Coimisiún ó am go ham le ceadú an Aire, arna thabhairt le toiliú an Aire Airgeadais.
(3) Féadfaidh an Coimisiún gach feidhm nó aon fheidhm dá chuid a fheidhmiú trí cibé comhaltaí dá fhoireann a bheidh údaraithe go cuí chuige sin ag an gCoimisiún.
9. (1) Sealbhóidh comhalta d'fhoireann an Choimisiúin (lena n-áirítear an príomhfheidhmeannach) a oifig nó a fhostaíocht ar cibé téarmaí agus coinníollacha a chinnfidh an Coimisiún ó am go ham, le ceadú an Aire arna thabhairt le toiliú an Aire Airgeadais.
(2) Íocfaidh an Coimisiún lena fhoireann (lena n-áirítear an príomhfheidhmeannach) cibé luach saothair agus liúntais is cuí leis an gCoimisiún, le ceadú an Aire arna thabhairt le toiliú an Aire Airgeadais.
(3) Le linn dó bheith ag cinneadh cén luach saothair nó cé na liúntais a íocfar lena fhoireann, nó cé na téarmaí nó na coinníollacha a sealbhaíonn nó a sealbhóidh an fhoireann sin a bhfostaíocht faoina réir, déanfaidh an Coimisiún de réir aon treorach i ndáil leis an luach saothair, na liúntais, na téarmaí agus na coinníollacha sin, a bheidh tugtha ó am go ham ag an Aire don Choimisiún, le toiliú an Aire Airgeadais.
(4) Féadfaidh an Coimisiún tráth ar bith aon chomhalta d'fhoireann an Choimisiúin a chur as oifig mar chomhalta dá fhoireann.
(5) D'ainneoin na bhforálacha sin roimhe seo den mhír seo, ní chuirfear an príomhfheidhmeannach as oifig gan toiliú an Aire.
10. (1) Más rud é, i gcás comhalta den Choimisiún—
(a) go n-ainmneofar é mar chomhalta de Sheanad Éireann, nó
(b) go n-ainmneofar é mar iarrthóir lena thoghadh chun ceachtar Teach den Oireachtas nó chun Parlaimint na hEorpa, nó
(c) go measfar, de bhun alt 15 (a cuireadh isteach le hAcht 1984) d'Acht 1977, é a bheith tofa chun Parlaimint na hEorpa chun folúntas a líonadh,
scoirfidh sé air sin de bheith ina chomhalta den Choimisiún.
(2) Más rud é, i gcás duine atá fostaithe ag an gCoimisiún—
(a) go n-ainmneofar é mar chomhalta de Sheanad Éireann, nó
(b) go n-ainmneofar é mar iarrthóir lena thoghadh chun ceachtar Teach den Oireachtas nó chun Parlaimint na hEorpa, nó
(c) go measfar, de bhun alt 15 (a cuireadh isteach le hAcht 1984) d'Acht 1977, é a bheith tofa chun Parlaimint na hEorpa chun folúntas a líonadh,
beidh sé ar iasacht ó fhostaíocht ag an gCoimisiún agus ní íccfaidh an Coimisiún leis, ná ní bheidh sé i dteideal go bhfaighidh sé ón gCoimisiún, aon luach saothair ná liúntais—
(i) i gcás é a bheith ainmnithe mar chomhalta de Sheanad Éireann nó go measfar é a bheith tofa chun Parlaimint na hEorpa, i leith na tréimhse dar tosach tráth a ainmnithe nó a thofa amhlaidh, de réir mar a bheidh, agus dar críoch an tráth a scoirfidh sé de bheith ina chomhalta de Sheanad Éireann nó de Pharlaimint na hEorpa,
(ii) i gcás é a bheith ainmnithe mar iarrthóir lena thoghadh chun ceachtar Teach den Oireachtas nó chun Parlaimint na hEorpa, i leith na tréimhse dar tosach tráth a ainmnithe agus dar críoch an tráth a scoirfidh sé de bheith ina chomhalta den Teach sin nó de Pharlaimint na hEorpa, de réir mar a bheidh, nó a tharraingeoidh sé siar ó bheith ina iarrthóir nó a chinnfidh toghchán air, de réir mar is cuí.
(3) Duine a bheidh, de thuras na huaire, i dteideal faoi Bhuan-Orduithe ceachtar Tí den Oireachtas suí sa Teach sin nó is comhalta de Pharlaimint na hEorpa beidh sé, fad a bheidh sé i dteideal amhlaidh nó ina chomhalta den sórt sin, dícháilithe chun bheith ina chomhalta den Choimisiún nó chun bheith ar fostú i gcáil ar bith ag an gCoimisiún.
(4) Gan dochar do ghinearáltacht fhomhír (2) den mhír seo, forléireofar an fhomhír sin mar fhomhír a thoirmiscfidh tréimhse a luaitear i gclásal (i) nó (ii) den fhomhír sin a áireamh mar sheirbhís leis an gCoimisiún chun críche aon phinsean, aiscí nó liúntas eile is iníoctha ar scor nó ar bhás.
(5) Sa mhír seo—
ciallaíonn “Acht 1977” an tAcht um Thoghcháin do Thionól na hEorpa, 1977;
ciallaíonn “Acht 1984” an tAcht um Thoghcháin do Thionól na hEorpa, 1984.
11. (1) Féadfaidh an Coimisiún scéim nó scéimeanna a ullmhú chun pinsin, aiscí agus liúntais eile a dheonú ar scor nó ar bhás, do cibé comhaltaí d'fhoireann an Choimisiúin (lena n-áirítear an príomhfheidhmeannach) is cuí leis, nó ina leith, agus cuirfidh an Coimisiún aon scéim den sórt sin faoi bhráid an Aire lena cheadú a fháil.
(2) Socróidh gach scéim den sórt sin an tráth scoir agus na coinníollacha scoir do na daoine go léir a mbeidh pinsin, aiscí nó liúntais eile iníoctha leo nó ina leith, tráth scoir nó báis, faoin scéim, agus féadfar tráthanna agus coinníollacha éagsúla a shocrú i ndáil le haicmí éagsúla daoine.
(3) Féadfaidh an Coimisiún tráth ar bith scéim ag leasú scéime a cuireadh faoi bhráid an Aire agus a ceadaíodh roimhe sin faoin mír seo a ullmhú agus a chur faoi bhráid an Aire.
(4) Forálfar i scéim a chuirfear faoi bhráid an Aire faoin mír seo go ndéanfar, má éiríonn aon díospóid i dtaobh éileamh aon duine ar aon phinsean, aisce nó liúntas eile is iníoctha de bhun scéime faoin mír seo, nó i dtaobh méid an chéanna, an díospóid sin a chur faoi bhráid an Aire agus tarchuirfidh seisean chuig an Aire Airgeadais í, agus is cinneadh críochnaitheach a chinneadhsan.
(5) Déanfaidh an Coimisiún scéim a bheidh curtha faoi bhráid an Aire faoin mír seo a chur i gcrích de réir a téarmaí, má bhíonn an scéim ceadaithe ag an Aire le toiliú an Aire Airgeadais.
(6) Ní dheonóidh an Coimisiún aon phinsean, aisce ná liúntas eile ar éirí as, ar scor nó ar bhás do chomhalta d'fhoireann an Choimisiúin (lena n-áirítear an príomhfheidhmeannach) seachas de réir scéime faoin mír seo.
(7) Gach scéim a chuirfear faoi bhráid an Aire agus a cheadófar faoin mír seo leagfar í faoi bhráid gach Tí den Oireachtas a luaithe is féidir tar éis a ceadaithe agus má dhéanann ceachtar Teach, laistigh den lá is fiche a shuífidh an Teach sin tar éis an scéim a leagan faoina bhráid, rún a rith ag neamhniú na scéime, beidh an scéim ar neamhní dá réir sin, ach sin gan dochar do bhailíocht aon ní a rinneadh roimhe sin faoin scéim.
12. (1) Beidh sé de dhualgas ar an gCoimisiún a ghnóthaí a sheoladh ar shlí a áiritheoidh go dtiocfaidh a ioncam chun bheith, a luaithe is féidir, agus go leanfaidh sé de bheith dá éis sin, leordhóthanach, ar a laghad, chun freastal dá chaiteachais.
(2) Aon bharrachas d'ioncam an Choimisiúin ar a chaiteachas, úsáidfear é i cibé slí a ordóidh an tAire, tar éis dó dul i gcomhairle leis an gCoimisiún agus le ceadú an Aire Airgeadais, agus féadfar a cheangal le haon ordú den sórt sin go ndéanfar an barrachas sin go léir, nó cuid de mar a bheidh sonraithe san ordú, a íoc isteach sa Phríomh-Chiste.
13. Féadfaidh an Coimisiún, le ceadú an Aire arna thabhairt le toiliú an Aire Airgeadais, cibé suimeanna (lena n-áirítear suimeanna in airgead reatha seachas airgead reatha an Stáit) a bheidh ag teastáil uaidh faoi chomhair caiteachais reatha a fháil ar iasacht go sealadach trí chomhshocraíocht le baincéirí.
14. (1) Féadfaidh an Coimisiún, le ceadú an Aire arna thabhairt le toiliú an Aire Airgeadais, airgead (lena n-áirítear airgead in airgead reatha seachas airgead reatha an Stáit) a fháil ar iasacht trí stoc nó cineálacha eile urrúis a bhunú a bheidh le heisiúint, le haistriú agus le fuascailt, agus a ndéileálfar leo, i cibé slí agus ar cibé téarmaí agus coinníollacha a chinnfidh an Coimisiún, le toiliú na nAirí a dúradh.
(2) Féadfar na cumhachtaí chun iasachtaí a fháil a thugtar leis an mír seo don Choimisiún a fheidhmiú, faoi réir thoiliú an Aire, chun críche ar bith a éireoidh agus é ag comhlíonadh a fheidhmeanna, ach féadfaidh coinníoll a bheith curtha le toiliú chun airgead a fháil ar iasacht á rá nach n-úsáidfear an t-airgead ach amháin ar mhaithe le clár oibreacha caipitiúla arna cheadú ag an Aire.
(3) Maidir leis na téarmaí ar a bhfaighfear airgead ar iasacht faoin mír seo, féadfar forálacha a áireamh iontu a mhuirearóidh an t-airgead agus an t-ús ar an airgead sin ar an maoin uile de chineál ar bith a bheidh dílsithe de thuras na huaire don Choimisiún nó ar aon mhaoin ar leith de chuid an Choimisiúin, chomh maith le forálacha ag bunú tosaíocht na muirear sin ar a chéile.
15. Féadfaidh an Coimisiún aon chistí dá chuid a infheistiú in aon slí ina gcumhachtaítear le dlí d'iontaobhaí cistí iontaobhais a infheistiú.
16. (1) Coimeádfaidh an Coimisiún i cibé foirm a cheadóidh an tAire, tar éis dó dul i gcomhairle leis an Aire Airgeadais, na cuntais go léir is cuí agus is gnách ar an airgead go léir a fuair nó a chaith sé, lena n-áirítear cuntas ioncaim agus caiteachais, agus clár comhardaithe.
(2) Déanfaidh an Coimisiún na cuntais a choimeádfar de bhun na míre seo a chur gach bliain faoi bhráid an Ard-Reachtaire Cuntas agus Ciste lena n-iniúchadh cibé tráth a ordóidh an tAire, le comhthoiliú an Aire Airgeadais.
(3) Díreach tar éis gach iniúchta faoin mír seo ar a chuntais, cuirfidh an Coimisiún na nithe seo a leanas chuig an Aire—
(a) cóip den chuntas ioncaim agus caiteachais agus den chlár comhardaithe, arna ndeimhniú ag an Ard-Reachtaire Cuntas agus Ciste,
(b) cóip de thuarascáil an Ard-Reachtaire Cuntas agus Ciste, agus
(c) cóipeanna de cibé de na cuntais a cuireadh faoi iniúchadh a gceapfaidh an tAire gur cuntais iad a mbeidh cóipeanna díobh le tabhairt dó.
(4) A luaithe is féidir tar éis dó na doiciméid a fháil a cheanglaítear a thabhairt dó faoin mír seo, cuirfidh an tAire faoi deara na doiciméid sin a leagan faoi bhráid gach Tí den Oireachtas.
17. (1) Tabharfaidh an Coimisiún don Aire gach bliain, ar cibé dáta a ordóidh an tAire, tuarascáil ar imeachtaí an Choimisiúin faoin Acht seo i gcaitheamh na bliana roimhe sin, agus cuirfidh an tAire faoi deara cóipeanna den tuarascáil a leagan faoi bhráid gach Tí den Oireachtas.
(2) Aon uair a ordóidh an tAire amhlaidh, beidh faisnéis sa tuarascáil bhliantúil freisin i dtaobh cibé gnéithe áirithe d'imeachtaí an Choimisiúin faoin Acht seo a shonróidh an tAire.
(3) Cuirfidh an Coimisiún faoi bhráid an Aire cibé faisnéis maidir le comhlíonadh feidhmeanna an Choimisiúin a iarrfaidh an tAire ó am go ham.