Broadcasting Act, 2001

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Functions of Teilifís na Gaeilge.

45.—(1) Teilifís na Gaeilge shall establish and maintain a national television broadcasting service which shall have the character of a public service and be made available, in so far as it is reasonably practicable, to the whole community on the island of Ireland.

(2) The broadcasting service referred to in subsection (1) shall be a free-to-air service.

(3) Teilifís na Gaeilge shall have all such powers as are necessary for or incidental to its function under subsection (1).

(4) Without prejudice to the generality of subsection (1), Teilifís na Gaeilge shall commission the making of programme material, originate programme material and, subject to, and in accordance with, subsection (5), acquire programme material from such sources as it thinks appropriate so as to ensure that the programme schedules of the broadcasting service referred to in subsection (1) (and also, where appropriate, any means of transmission referred to in subsection (8)(c))—

(a) provide a comprehensive range of programmes, primarily in the Irish language, that reflect the cultural diversity of the whole island of Ireland and include programmes that entertain, inform and educate, provide coverage of sporting, religious and cultural activities and cater for the expectations of those of all age groups in the community whose preferred spoken language is Irish or who otherwise have an interest in Irish,

(b) provide programmes, primarily in the Irish language, of news and current affairs,

(c) provide coverage of proceedings in the Houses of the Oireachtas and the European Parliament, and

(d) facilitate or assist contemporary cultural expression and encourage or promote innovation and experimentation in broadcasting.

(5) Teilifís na Gaeilge may, for the purpose of complementing the programme material it broadcasts in the Irish language, acquire programme material in other languages; in acquiring such material, Teilifis na Gaeilge shall have regard to the need to maintain the distinctive character of the broadcasting service referred to in subsection (1) and to cater for the expectations of audiences who are not generally catered for by other broadcasting services.

(6) Each amount paid to Teilifís na Gaeilge under section 51 shall be used by it solely for the purposes of performing its function under subsection (1) and exercising the powers conferred on it by this Act with respect to that function.

(7) Teilifís na Gaeilge may use moneys it obtains from any source, other than under section 51 , in whole or in part for the purposes referred to in subsection (5).

(8) Without prejudice to the generality of the preceding provisions of this section, Teilifís na Gaeilge shall have the following powers—

(a) to make contracts, agreements and arrangements incidental or conducive to the functions of Teilifís na Gaeilge,

(b) to provide, in addition to the broadcasting service referred to in subsection (1), broadcasting services which are of a special interest to only certain members of the community or which are made available on a subscription or pay-per-view basis,

(c) to transmit by any electronic means (other than by means of broadcasting) such of the programme schedules of the broadcasting services referred to in subsection (1) or paragraph (b), with such alterations or adaptations as are appropriate, as it thinks fit,

(d) to acquire and make use of copyrights, patents, licences, privileges and concessions,

(e) to collect news and information and to subscribe to news services and such other services as may be conducive to the functions of Teilifís na Gaeilge,

(f) to subscribe to such international associations and to such educational, musical and dramatic bodies and such other bodies promoting entertainment or culture as may be conducive to the functions of Teilifís na Gaeilge,

(g) to arrange with other broadcasters for the distribution, receipt, exchange and relay of programme material (whether live or recorded),

(h) to organise, provide and subsidise concerts and other entertainments in connection with the broadcasting service referred to in subsection (1) or for any purpose incidental thereto and, in relation to any such concert or entertainment, to provide or procure accommodation, and, if desired, to make charges for admission,

(i) to prepare, publish and distribute, with or without charge, such magazines, books, papers and other printed matter as may seem to Teilifís na Gaeilge to be conducive or incidental to its functions,

(j) to compile, publish, distribute, sell and exchange recorded aural and visual material in whatsoever form contained (including any form of electronic storage developed after the establishment day).