The Broadcasting Bill will significantly change the broadcasting landscape in Ireland. A detailed and comprehensive legislative proposal, the Bill seeks to deal with virtually all aspects of regulation and provision of broadcasting in Ireland. The Bill represents a consolidation of almost 50 years of Irish broadcasting legislation and repeals key Acts that date from 1960. The Bill seeks to revise the law relating to broadcasting services and content and for that purpose to establish an authority to be known as, in the English language, The Broadcasting Authority of Ireland or, in the Irish language, Údarás Craolacháin na hÉireann, to dissolve The Broadcasting Commission of Ireland and The Broadcasting Complaints Commission, to amend and repeal certain enactments relating to broadcasting

The Broadcasting Bill, 2008 was approved by Government following a wide-ranging and informed debate, much of which was carried out through the e-Consultation process. It is the first such legislation to undergo such widespread consultation and rigorous scrutiny prior to its introduction.

It was published on 14 May, 2008.

View the Bill and the Explanatory Memorandum

TELEVISION LICENCES REGULATIONS 2007 S.I. 851 of 2007 This links to a PDF document

The television licence fee is increased from 1 January 2008 to €160. The Regulations set out the period for which a licence is in force and the terms and conditions to be observed by a licence holder. They also provide for methods of paying the licence fee.

Broadcasting (Amendment) Act 2007

and Commencement Order This links to a PDF document

Makes further provisions in relation to Broadcasting including the supply of programme material by digital means; the broadcasting of certain services to Irish communities outside the island of ireland; the discontinuance of certain broadcasting services transmitted by analogue means; to confer additional functions on the commission for communications regulation, Radio Telefis Eireann, the Broadcasting Commission of Ireland and Teilifi´s na Gaeilge, to confer a power subject to licence on Teilifi´s na Gaeilge; to amend the Broadcasting Authority Acts 1960 to 2001 and certain other enactments and to provide for related matters.

Teilifis Na Gaeilge (Establishment Day) Order 2007

(Statutory Instrument No. 98 of 2007)
The day appointed as the establishment day for the purposes of Part 6 of
the Broadcasting Act 2001 (No. 4 of 2001) is 1 April 2007.

Television Regulations 2006 This links to a PDF document

(Statutory Instrument No. 404 of 2006) The television licence fee is increased from 1 October 2006 to €158. The Regulations set out the period for which a licence is in force and the terms and conditions to be observed by a licence holder. They also provide for methods of paying the licence fee.

Broadcasting (Funding) Act 2003 This links to a PDF document

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Provides that the Broadcasting Commission of Ireland prepare a scheme or schemes for the funding of grants to support certain television and radio programmes and projects out of an amount of 5% of net receipts for television licence fees, to outline the objectives of a scheme and to provide for related matters.

*Digital Hub Development Agency Act, 2003 This links to a PDF document

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Provides for the establishment of a body to be known as The Digital Hub Development Agency, to define its functions, to dissolve Digital Media Development Limited, to amend The Communications Regulation Act 2002 and to provide for connected matters

*Broadcasting (Major Events Television Coverage) (Amendment) Act, 2003 This links to a PDF document

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Amends the Broadcasting (Major Events Television Coverage) Act, 1999 by introducing an arbitration mechanism where a qualifying broadcaster and an event organiser are unable to agree a price with respect to the acquisition of broadcasting rights to an event designated under the Principal Act.

Earlier Legislation**

Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources, 29-31 Adelaide Road, Dublin 2, Ireland
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