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Number 24 of 1990
BROADCASTING ACT, 1990
ARRANGEMENT OF SECTIONS
Repeals
Acts Referred to | |
1960, No. 10 | |
1966, No. 7 | |
1976, No. 37 | |
1988, No. 19 | |
Police (Property) Act, 1897 | 1897, c. 30 |
1988, No. 20 | |
1926, No. 45 | |
Number 24 of 1990
BROADCASTING ACT, 1990
Interpretation.
1.—(1) In this Act—
“the Act of 1926” means the Wireless Telegraphy Act, 1926;
“the Act of 1966” means the Broadcasting Authority (Amendment) Act, 1966;
“the Act of 1976” means the Broadcasting Authority (Amendment) Act, 1976;
“the Authority” means Radio Telefís Éireann;
“licensee” means the holder of a licence issued by the Minister under the Wireless Telegraphy (Wired Broadcast Relay Licence) Regulations, 1974 (S.I. No. 67 of 1974) or a licence issued by the Minister under the Wireless Telegraphy (Television Programme Retransmission) Regulations, 1989 (S.I. No. 39 of 1989);
“the Minister” means the Minister for Communications;
“owner” has the same meaning as in the Broadcasting and Wireless Telegraphy Act, 1988;
“premises” has the same meaning as in the Broadcasting and Wireless Telegraphy Act, 1988;
“the Principal Act” means the Broadcasting Authority Act, 1960;
“service provider” means the provider of a service specified in an order made under section 16.
(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 a paragraph is a reference to the subsection or paragraph of the provision in which the reference occurs unless it is indicated that a reference to some other provision is intended.
Commencement.
2.—This Act shall come into operation on the 1st day of October, 1990.
Advertising broadcasts by Authority.
3.—(1) The total daily times for broadcasting advertisements fixed by the Authority shall not exceed 7.5 per cent. of the total daily programme transmission time and the maximum period so fixed to be given to advertisements in any one hour shall not exceed five minutes. In the case of the sound broadcasting service known as “Atlantic 252” operating on a longwave frequency and licensed under section 16 of the Principal Act the total daily time for broadcasting advertisements shall not exceed 20 per cent. of daily programme transmission time and the maximum period to be given to advertisements in any one hour shall be as determined by the Authority.
(2) In respect of each financial year beginning with the year commencing on the 1st day of January, 1991, it shall be the duty of the Authority to ensure that the total revenue derived by it from advertising, sponsorship or other forms of commercial promotion in broadcasts in any year does not exceed the amount paid to the Authority pursuant to section 8 of the Act of 1976 in the preceding financial year, that amount having been adjusted by the percentage increase in the consumer price index compiled by the Central Statistics Office for that preceding financial year.
(3) In respect of the part of the year 1990 from the commencement of this Act until the 31st day of December, 1990, it shall be the duty of the Authority to ensure that the total revenue derived by it from advertising, sponsorship or other forms of commercial promotion in broadcasts does not exceed one hundred and twenty per cent. of the balance of the amount of £46.815 million remaining after deducting the amount paid to it pursuant to section 8 of the Act of 1976 in the part of that year preceding such commencement.
(4) If in respect of any financial year or in respect of the period from the commencement of this Act until the 31st day of December, 1990, the statement to be provided to the Minister under section 7 (2) shows that the actual receipts derived by the Authority from advertising, sponsorship or other forms of commercial promotion in broadcasts in that year or period exceeded the limit as calculated in accordance with subsection (2) or (3) of this section, as the case may be, the total receipts which may be derived from such sources in the subsequent financial year in accordance with the said subsection (2) shall be reduced by the amount of the excess.
Codes of practice relating to advertising and other commercial promotions.
4.—(1) The Minister shall draw up and may amend, from time to time as he thinks proper, codes governing standards, practice and prohibitions in advertising, sponsorship or other forms of commercial promotion in broadcasting services and the Authority, every sound broadcasting contractor and the television programme service contractor shall comply with every such code in relation to its broadcasting services.
(2) A code under subsection (1) relating to the Authority may provide for the extent to which the Authority's promotion of its own commercial activities within its own broadcasting services is to be treated as advertising for the purposes of section 3 and a code relating to a sound broadcasting contractor or television programme service contractor may provide for the extent to which that contractor's promotion of its own commercial activities within its own broadcasting services is to be so treated for the purposes of section 10 (4) of the Radio and Television Act, 1988.
(3) The Minister shall consult the Authority and the Independent Radio and Television Commission in drawing up or amending a code under subsection (1).
(4) Pending the drawing up of a code under subsection (1) the Authority and the Independent Radio and Television Commission shall continue to apply their codes for the time being in force governing standards, practice and prohibitions in broadcast advertising.
(5) A code drawn up under subsection (1), in relation to the broadcasting services of the Authority, sound broadcasting contractors or the television programme service contractor, shall supersede any existing code under section 18B (1) (e) of the Principal Act (inserted by section 4 of the Act of 1976) or under section 10 (2) of the Radio and Television Act, 1988, in relation to such services.
(6) The references to section 10 (2) (which relates to codes of standards) of the Radio and Television Act, 1988, in section 10 (6) or section 11 (4) (a) (iv) of that Act shall be construed as including reference to a code under subsection (1) of this section.
Independent productions on Authority's television services.
5.—In the period from the commencement of this Act until the 3rd day of October, 1991, the Authority shall ensure that a reasonable proportion of the programme material on its television services is devoted to original programme material produced in the State or in another Member State of the European Communities by persons other than the Authority, its subsidiaries or other broadcasting organisations and that, as far as is practicable, that proportion shall not be less than that broadcast by the Authority in the year 1989.
Television programme service contract.
6.—(1) The Independent Radio and Television Commission may, if it considers it appropriate to do so, in addition to the contract entered into under section 4 (2) (b) of the Radio and Television Act, 1988, enter into an additional contract with the television programme service contractor under which the television programme service contractor shall have the right and duty, in addition to the transmission systems referred to in section 17 of that Act, to establish, maintain and operate television broadcasting transmitters for the purpose of transmitting the television programme service referred to in section 4 of the said Act of 1988.
(2) Subsections (3) to (6) of section 4 of the said Act of 1988 shall apply with necessary modifications with respect to the provision of any such transmission facilities as they apply in relation to sound broadcasting services.
(3) Section 18 (1) of the said Act of 1988 shall be amended by the deletion of the reference therein to section 7 of that Act.
Accounts and audits.
7.—(1) The Authority shall submit annually for audit to such duly qualified auditors as the Authority may appoint all accounts kept for the purposes of the Broadcasting Authority Acts, 1960 to 1979, and this Act.
(2) Immediately after each audit of its accounts, the Authority shall send to the Minister—
(a) a copy of the income and expenditure account and balance sheet as certified by the auditors,
(b) a copy of the auditors' report,
(c) a statement certified by the auditors in respect of the total revenue derived by the Authority from advertising, sponsorship or other forms of commercial promotion in its broadcasts,
(d) 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.
Complaints to Broadcasting Complaints Commission regarding broadcasts affecting an individual.
8.—(1) Section 18B (1) of the Principal Act (inserted by section 4 of the Act of 1976) is hereby amended by the addition of the following paragraph:
“(g) a complaint by a person that on a specified occasion an assertion was made in a broadcast of inaccurate facts or information in relation to that person which constituted an attack on that person's honour or reputation”.
(2) Section 18B of the Principal Act is hereby amended by the insertion of a new subsection as follows:
“(11A) Without prejudice to subsection (11) of this section, the Authority shall, unless the Commission considers it inappropriate, broadcast the Commission's decision on every complaint considered by the Commission in which the Commission found in favour, in whole or in part, of the complainant, including any correction of inaccurate facts or information relating to an individual arising from a complaint under subsection (1) (g) of this section, at a time and in a manner corresponding to that in which the offending broadcast took place”.
(3) A reference in the said section 18B to a code shall be construed as including a reference to a code in force under section 4 of this Act.
Prohibition on interception of services.
9.—(1) No person, other than a duly authorised officer of the Minister, shall, in relation to a service provided by a licensee or a service provider—
(a) intercept the service,
(b) suffer or permit or do any other thing that enables such interception by any person,
(c) possess, manufacture, assemble, import, supply, or offer to supply, any equipment which is designed or adapted to be used for the purpose of enabling such interception by any person, or
(d) publish information with the intention of assisting or enabling any person to intercept such a service.
(2) No person shall—
(a) knowingly instal or attempt to instal or maintain any equipment which is capable of being used or designed or adapted to be used for the purpose of enabling such interception by any person, or
(b) wilfully damage or attempt to damage a system or part of a system operated by a licensee or service provider.
(3) A person who contravenes any provision of subsection (1) or (2) shall be guilty of an offence.
(4) In this section “intercept” in relation to a service means receive, view, listen to, record by any means or acquire the substance or purport of the service or part thereof supplied by a licensee or service provider without the agreement of the licensee or service provider.
Prohibition on owner of premises where prohibited action or conduct takes place.
10.—(1) No person, being the owner of, or in control of, or concerned in the management of, any premises shall knowingly suffer or permit any action or conduct to which section 9 relates to occur on such premises.
(2) A person who contravenes subsection (1) shall be guilty of an offence.
(3) Where in proceedings for an offence under this section it is proved that an offence was committed in or on particular premises and that the defendant was, at the time of the alleged offence, the owner of, or in control or concerned in the management of, the premises then, unless there is sufficient other evidence to raise an issue as to whether the defendant knowingly permitted the offence to have been committed, he shall be treated as having so suffered or permitted the offence to have been committed.
Penalties.
11.—(1) A person guilty of an offence under section 9 or 10 shall be liable:
(a) on summary conviction, to imprisonment for a term not exceeding three months or, at the discretion of the court, to a fine not exceeding £1,000, or
(b) on conviction on indictment, to imprisonment for a term not exceeding two years or, at the discretion of the court, to a fine not exceeding £20,000 or to both such fine and such imprisonment.
(2) Where an offence under section 9 or 10 which has been committed by a body corporate is proved to have been committed with the consent or connivance of, or to be attributable to any neglect on the part of, a director, manager, secretary or other similar officer of the body corporate, or any person who was purporting to act in any such capacity, he, as well as the body corporate, shall be guilty of that offence and shall be liable to be proceeded against accordingly.
(3) Notwithstanding section 10 (4) of the Petty Sessions (Ireland) Act, 1851, summary proceedings for an offence under section 9 or 10 of this Act may be instituted at any time within two years from the time when the offence was committed.
Forfeiture of equipment.
12.—(1) On summary conviction or on conviction on indictment for an offence under section 9 (1) (c) or 9 (2) (a) the Court may order the forfeiture to the Minister of any equipment used in the commission of the offence.
(2) The Minister may deal with or dispose of, as he thinks fit, anything so forfeited.
(3) The net proceeds of anything sold by the Minister in pursuance of this section shall be paid into or disposed of for the benefit of the Exchequer in such manner as the Minister for Finance shall direct.
Onus of proof.
13.—In proceedings for an offence under section 9 or 10 it shall not be necessary to negative by evidence the existence of an agreement with a licensee or service provider and accordingly the onus of proving the existence of such an agreement shall be on the defendant.
Search warrants.
14.—(1) A Justice of the District Court may, upon the information on oath of a member of the Garda Síochána that there is reasonable ground for believing that an offence under section 9 or 10 is taking or has taken place in a specified place, grant to such member of the Garda Síochána a search warrant which shall be expressed and shall operate to authorise the member of the Garda Síochána to whom it is granted to enter, and if need be by force, the place named in the said information and there to search for equipment to which section 9 (1) (c) or 9 (2) (a) relates and to examine all such equipment there found and to seize and take away all or any part of such equipment.
(2) (a) A search warrant granted under this section shall operate to authorise any one or more of the following, namely, any member of the Garda Síochána or any person authorised by the member of the Garda Síochána to whom the warrant is granted to accompany and assist him in the exercise of the powers thereby conferred on him.
(b) The member of the Garda Síochána to whom the warrant is granted may retain anything seized under this section which he believes to be evidence of any offence or suspected offence under section 9 (1) (c) or 9 (2) (a) for use as evidence in proceedings in relation to any such offence, for such period from the date of seizure as is reasonable, or, if proceedings are commenced in which the thing so seized is required for use in evidence, until the conclusion of the proceedings, and the member of the Garda Síochána shall, as soon as may be, deliver any such thing to the person who in his opinion is the owner thereof, and in case the member of the Garda Síochána decides that he is unable to ascertain such person, then, on and from the date of his decision, the Police (Property) Act, 1897, shall apply to the thing so seized.
(3) (a) Any person who by act or omission impedes or obstructs a member of the Garda Síochána or any other person in the exercise of a power conferred by this section shall be guilty of an offence.
(b) Any person who with intent to impede or obstruct a member of the Garda Síochána or any other person in the exercise of a power conferred by this section places, erects, instals, keeps or maintains any thing shall be guilty of an offence and if the impediment or obstruction is continued after conviction, he shall be guilty of a further offence on each day on which it is so continued.
(c) Every person guilty of an offence under this subsection shall be liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding £500.
Civil remedies.
15.—(1) Where it is alleged by a licensee or service provider that any activity or conduct prohibited by section 9 is being, has been or is about to be carried on and that, as a result, he has suffered, is suffering or may suffer damage he shall be entitled to seek the following remedies against the person responsible—
(a) an order of the High Court or Circuit Court restraining the person from carrying on or attempting to carry on the activity or conduct complained of;
(b) damages or, at the option of the complainant, an account of profits.
(2) An application to the High Court or Circuit Court for an order referred to in subsection (1) shall be by motion and the court, when considering the matter, may make such interim or interlocutory order (if any) as it considers appropriate.
(3) An application to the Circuit Court under subsection (1) shall be made to the judge of the Circuit where the activity or conduct is alleged to be or to have been carried on or to be apprehended or where the person alleged to be responsible resides.
Extension of provisions.
16.—(1) The Minister may by order, subject to such exceptions as he thinks fit, extend provisions of sections 9 to 15 (subject to such modifications as he thinks proper) to any class of service transmitted by wireless telegraphy intended by the service provider to be received only by persons paying a fee to the service provider.
(2) This section applies to any class of service, whether transmitted from inside or outside the State, which is transmitted by encrypted programme transmission.
(3) In this section the term “encrypted programme transmission” means a transmission in a form whereby the aural or visual characteristics (or both) are modified or altered for the purpose of preventing the unauthorised reception of such transmission by persons without authorised equipment which is designed to eliminate the effects of such modification or alteration.
(4) The Minister may by order revoke or amend any order made by him under this section.
(5) Where it is proposed to make an order under this section a draft of the order shall be laid before each House of the Oireachtas and the order shall not be made until a resolution approving of the draft has been passed by each House.
Amendment of Act of 1926.
17.—(1) For the avoidance of doubt, where it appears appropriate to the Minister, he may, in the interests of the efficient and orderly use of wireless telegraphy, limit the number of licences for any particular class or classes of apparatus for wireless telegraphy granted pursuant to section 5 of the Act of 1926.
(2) The Act of 1926 is hereby amended by the insertion after section 6 (2) of the following:
“(2A) Where it appears to be expedient to the Minister he may by instrument in writing recognise as valid a licence issued by another country in respect of a class or classes of apparatus for wireless telegraphy subject to such conditions or restrictions as to the use of such apparatus as the Minister sees fit.”.
Amendment of Broadcasting and Wireless Telegraphy Act, 1988.
18.—Subsection (4) of section 6 of the Broadcasting and Wireless Telegraphy Act, 1988, is hereby amended by the insertion after the words “sections 3, 4 or 5 of this Act” of the words “or under section 3 of the Act of 1926 as amended by section 12 of this Act”.
Repeals.
19.—Each of the enactments cited in the Schedule to this Act is hereby repealed to the extent indicated in the third column of that Schedule.
Short title.
20.—This Act may be cited as the Broadcasting Act, 1990.
SCHEDULE
Repeals
Number and Year | Short Title | Extent of Repeal |
No. 10 of 1960 | Section 20(3), inserted by section 14 of Act No. 37 of 1976. | |
Section 25(1A), (1B), inserted by section 6 of Act No. 7 of 1966. | ||
No. 7 of 1966 | Section 6. | |
No. 37 of 1976 | Section14 (2). |
Uimhir 24 de 1990
AN tACHT CRAOLACHÁIN, 1990
RIAR NA nALT
Aisghairm
Na hAchtanna dá dTagraítear | |
Police (Property) Act, 1897 | 1897, c. 30 |
Uimhir 24 de 1990
AN tACHT CRAOLACHÁIN, 1990
[An tiontú oifigiúil]
ACHT DO DHÉANAMH SOCRÚ BREISE I nDÁIL LE CRAOLACHÁN AGUS RAIDIÓ-THEILEAGRAFAÍOCHT AGUS CHUN NA CRÍCHE SIN DO LEASÚ NA nACHT-ANNA UM ÚDARÁS CRAOLACHÁIN, 1960 GO 1979, AN ACHTA RAIDIÓ AGUS TEILIFÍSE, 1988, AGUS NA nACH-TANNA RAIDIÓ-THEILEAGRAFAÍOCHTA, 1926 GO 1988, AGUS DO DHÉANAMH SOCRÚ I dTAOBH NITHE EILE A BHAINEANN LEIS NA NITHE RÉAMHRÁITE.
[24 Iúil, 1990]
ACHTAÍTEAR AG AN OIREACHTAS MAR A LEANAS:
Léiriú.
1.—(1) San Acht seo—
ciallaíonn “Acht 1926” an tAcht Radio-Thelegrafaíochta, 1926;
ciallaíonn “Acht 1966” an tAcht um Údarás Craolacháin (Leasú), 1966;
ciallaíonn “Acht 1976” an tAcht um Údarás Craolacháin (Leasú), 1976;
ciallaíonn “an tÚdarás” Radio Telefís Éireann;
ciallaíonn “ceadúnaí” sealbhóir ceadúnais arna eisiúint ag an Aire faoi na Rialacháin Raidió-Theileagrafaíochta (Ceadúnas Leaschraolacháin Shreangaithe), 1974 (I.R. Uimh. 67 de 1974) nó ceadúnais arna eisiúint ag an Aire faoi na Rialacháin Raidió-Theileagrafaíochta (Cláir Theilifíse a Atarchur), 1989 (I.R. Uimh. 39 de 1989);
ciallaíonn “an tAire” an tAire Cumarsáide;
tá le “úinéir” an bhrí chéanna atá leis san Acht Craolacháin agus Raidió-Theileagrafaíochta, 1988;
tá le “áitreabh” an bhrí chéanna atá leis san Acht Craolacháin agus Raidió-Theileagrafaíochta, 1988;
ciallaíonn “an Príomh-Acht” an tAcht um Údarás Craolacháin, 1960;
ciallaíonn “soláthraí seirbhíse” soláthraí seirbhíse atá sonraithe in ordú arna dhéanamh faoi alt 16.
(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 is tagairt í don fho-alt nó don mhír den fhoráil ina bhfuil an tagairt, mura léirítear gur tagairt d'fhoráil éigin eile atá beartaithe.
Tosach feidhme.
2.—Tiocfaidh an tAcht seo i ngníomh an 1ú lá de Dheireadh Fómhair, 1990.
Craoltaí fógraíochta ag an Údarás.
3.—(1) Na hamanna iomlána in aghaidh an lae chun fógráin a chraoladh a shocróidh an tÚdarás ní rachaidh siad thar 7.5 faoin gcéad den am iomlán do tharchur clár in aghaidh an lae agus ní rachaidh an tréimhse uasta a shocrófar amhlaidh a thabharfar d'fhógráin in aon uair an chloig amháin thar chúig nóiméad. I gcás na seirbhíse craolacháin fuaime ar a dtugtar “Atlantic 252” a oibríonn ar mhinicíocht fadtoinne agus atá ceadúnaithe faoi alt 16 den Phríomh-Acht ní rachaidh an t-am iomlán in aghaidh an lae chun fógráin a chraoladh thar 20 faoin gcéad den am iomlán do tharchur clár in aghaidh an lae agus is de réir mar a chinnfidh an tÚdarás a bheidh an tréimhse uasta a thabharfar d'fhógráin in aon uair an chloig amháin.
(2) Beidh de dhualgas ar an Údarás a áirithiú, i leith gach bliana airgeadais ag tosú leis an mbliain dar tosach an 1ú lá d'Eanáir, 1991, nach rachaidh an t-ioncam iomlán a gheobhaidh sé as fógraíocht, urraíocht nó cineálacha eile cur chun cinn tráchtála i gcraoltaí in aon bhliain thar an méid a íocadh leis an Údarás de bhun alt 8 d'Acht 1976 sa bhliain airgeadais roimhe sin, ach an méid sin a bheith coigeartaithe leis an méadú de réir céatadáin sa treoir-phraghas do thomhaltóirí a bheidh tiomsaithe ag an bPríomh-Oifig Staidrimh don bhliain airgeadais sin roimhe sin.
(3) Beidh de dhualgas ar an Údarás a áirithiú, i leith an chuid den bhliain 1990 ó thosach feidhme an Achta seo go dtí an 31ú lá de Nollaig, 1990, nach rachaidh an t-ioncam iomlán a gheobhaidh sé as fógraíocht, urraíocht nó cineálacha eile cur chun cinn tráchtála i gcraoltaí thar chéad is fiche faoin gcéad d'iarmhéid an £46.815 mhilliún a bheidh fágtha tar éis an méid a asbhaint a íoctar leis de bhun alt 8 d'Acht 1976 sa chuid den bhliain sin roimh an tosach feidhme sin.
(4) Más rud é, i leith aon bhliana airgeadais nó i leith na tréimhse ó thosach feidhme an Achta seo go dtí an 31ú lá de Nollaig, 1990, go léiríonn an ráiteas a bheidh le cur ar fáil don Aire faoi alt 7 (2) gur mhó ná an teorainn arna ríomh de réir fho-alt (2) nó (3) den alt seo, de réir mar a bheidh, na fáltais iarbhír a fuair an tÚdarás as fógraíocht, urraíocht nó cineálacha eile cur chun cinn tráchtála i gcraoltaí sa bhliain nó sa tréimhse sin, déanfar na fáltais iomlána is féidir a fháil as na foinsí sin sa bhliain airgeadais ina dhiaidh sin de réir an fho-ailt sin (2) a laghdú de mhéid na breise.
Cóid chleachtais a bhaineann le fógraíocht agus cineálacha eile cur chun cinn tráchtála.
4.—(1) Tarraingeoidh an tAire suas cóid agus féadfaidh sé ó am go ham, de réir mar is cóir leis, iad a leasú, is cóid a rialóidh caighdeáin, cleachtas agus toirmisc i bhfógraíocht, in urraíocht nó i gcineálacha eile cur chun cinn tráchtála i seirbhísí craolacháin agus déanfaidh an tÚdarás, gach conraitheoir craolacháin fuaime agus an conraitheoir seirbhíse clár teilifíse de réir gach cóid den sórt sin i ndáil lena sheirbhísí craolacháin.
(2) I gcód faoi fho-alt (1) a bhaineann leis an Údarás, féadfar a fhoráil a mhéid a dhéileálfar, mar fhógraíocht chun críocha alt 3, le cur chun cinn a ghníomhaíochtaí tráchtála féin ag an Údarás laistigh dá sheirbhísí craolacháin féin agus, i gcód a bhaineann le conraitheoir craolacháin fuaime nó conraitheoir seirbhíse clár teilifíse, féadfar a fhoráil a mhéid a dhéileálfar amhlaidh chun críocha alt 10 (4) den Acht Raidió agus Teilifíse, 1988, le cur chun cinn a ghníomhaíochtaí tráchtála féin ag an gconraitheoir sin laistigh dá sheirbhísí craolacháin féin.
(3) Rachaidh an tAire i gcomhairle leis an Údarás agus leis an gCoimisiún um Raidió agus Teilifís Neamhspleách le linn dó cód a tharraingt suas nó a leasú faoi fho-alt (1).
(4) Go dtí go dtarraingeofar suas cód faoi fho-alt (1) leanfaidh an tÚdarás agus an Coimisiún um Raidió agus Teilifís Neamhspleách d'fheidhmiú na gcód acu atá i bhfeidhm de thuras na huaire a rialaíonn caighdeáin, cleachtas agus toirmisc i bhfógraíocht chraolta.
(5) Cód a tharraingeofar suas faoi fho-alt (1), i ndáil le seirbhísí craolacháin an Údaráis, le conraitheoirí craolacháin fuaime nó leis an gconraitheoir seirbhíse clár teilifíse, glacfaidh sé ionad aon chóid láithrigh faoi alt 18B (1) (e) den Phríomh-Acht (a cuireadh isteach le halt 4 d'Acht 1976) nó faoi alt 10 (2) den Acht Raidió agus Teilifíse 1988, i ndáil leis na seirbhísí sin.
(6) Déanfar na tagairtí d'alt 10 (2) (a bhaineann le cóid chaighdeán) den Acht Raidió agus Teilifíse, 1988, atá in alt 10 (6) nó alt 11 (4) (a) (iv) den Acht sin, a fhorléiriú mar ní a fholaíonn tagairt do chód faoi fho-alt (1) den alt seo.
Táirgthí neamhspleácha ar sheirbhísí teilifíse an Údaráis.
5.—Sa tréimhse ó thosach feidhme an Achta seo go dtí an 3ú lá de Dheireadh Fómhair, 1991, áiritheoidh an tÚdarás go mbainfidh riar réasúnta den ábhar clár ar a sheirbhísí teilifíse le hábhar clár bunúil a tháirgtear sa Stát nó i mBallstát eile de na Comhphobail Eorpacha ag daoine seachas an tÚdarás, a fhochuideachtaí nó eagraíochtaí craolacháin eile agus, a mhéid is féidir é, nach lú an riar sin ná an riar a chraol an tÚdarás sa bhliain 1989.
Conradh seirbhíse clár teilifíse.
6.—(1) Féadfaidh an Coimisiún um Raidió agus Teilifís Neamhspleách, mas cuí leis déanamh amhlaidh, de bhreis ar an gconradh a rinneadh faoi alt 4 (2) (b) den Acht Raidió agus Teilifíse, 1988, conradh breise a dhéanamh leis an gconraitheoir seirbhíse clár teilifíse faoina mbeidh an ceart ag an gconraitheoir seirbhíse clár teilifíse, agus an dualgas air, de bhreis ar na córais tarchuir dá dtagraítear in alt 17 den Acht sin, tarchuradóirí craolacháin teilifíse a bhunú, a chothabháil agus a oibriú chun an tseirbhís clár teilifíse dá dtagraítear in alt 4 den Acht sin 1988 a tharchur.
(2) Beidh feidhm ag fo-ailt (3) go (6) d'alt 4 den Acht sin 1988, fara modhnuithe riachtanacha, maidir le soláthar aon saoráidí tarchuir den sórt sin mar atá feidhm acu i ndáil le seirbhísí craolacháin fuaime.
(3) Leasófar alt 18 (1) den Acht sin 1988 tríd an tagairt atá ann d'alt 7 den Acht sin a scriosadh.
Cuntais agus iniúchadh.
7.—(1) Déanfaidh an tÚdarás gach bliain na cuntais go léir a choimeádtar chun críocha na nAchtanna um Údarás Craolacháin, 1960 go 1979, agus an Achta seo, a chur faoi bhráid cibé iniúchóirí cuí-cháilithe a cheapfaidh an tÚdarás le hiniúchadh a dhéanamh orthu.
(2) Cuirfidh an tÚdarás chuig an Aire, díreach tar éis gach iniúchta ar a chuntais—
(a) cóip den chuntas ioncaim agus caiteachais agus den chlár comhardaithe arna dheimhniú ag na hiniúchóirí,
(b) cóip de thuarascáil na n-iniúchóirí,
(c) ráiteas arna dheimhniú ag na hiniúchóirí maidir leis an ioncam iomlán a fhaigheann an tÚdarás as fógraíocht, urraíocht nó cineálacha eile cur chun cinn tráchtála ina chraoltaí,
(d) cóipeanna de cibé cuntais a chuirtear le haghaidh iniúchadh a gceapfaidh an tAire iad mar chuntais a bhfuil cóipeanna díobh le tabhairt dó.
Gearáin leis an gCoimisiún um Ghearáin Chraolacháin i dtaobh craoltaí a fhearann ar dhuine aonair.
8.—(1) Leasaítear leis seo alt 18B (1) den Phríomh-Acht (a cuireadh isteach le halt 4 d'Acht 1976) tríd an mír seo a leanas a chur leis:
“(g) gearán ó dhuine gur dearbhaíodh ar ócáid shonraithe i gcraoladh fíorais nó faisnéis i ndáil leis an duine sin a bhí míchruinn agus ar ionsaí a bhí iontu ar onóir nó dea-chlú an duine sin.”.
(2) Leasaítear leis seo alt 18B den Phríomh-Acht trí fho-alt nua a chur isteach mar a leanas:
“(11A) Gan dochar d'fho-alt (11) den alt seo, déanfaidh an tÚdarás, mura gceapann an Coimisiún go mbeadh sé mí-iomchuí, cinneadh an Choimisiúin ar gach gearán ar a ndearna an Coimisiún breithniú agus inar chinn an Coimisiún i bhfabhar an ghearánaí, go hiomlán nó go páirteach, lena n-áirítear aon cheartú ar fhíorais nó faisnéis a bhí míchruinn i ndáil le duine aonair de dhroim aon ghearáin faoi fho-alt (1) (g) den alt seo, a chraoladh ag tráth agus ar mhodh a fhreagróidh don tráth agus don mhodh inar tharla an craoladh goilliúnach.”.
(3) Déanfar tagairt san alt sin 18B do chód a fhorléiriú mar ní a fholaíonn tagairt do chód a bheidh i bhfeidhm faoi alt 4 den Acht seo.
Toirmeasc ar sheirbhísí a thascradh.
9.—(1) Ní dhéanfaidh aon duine, seachas oifigeach cuí-údaraithe don Aire, i ndáil le seirbhís a sholáthróidh ceadúnaí nó soláthraí seirbhíse—
(a) an tseirbhís a thascradh,
(b) ligean d'aon rud tarlú, nó aon rud a cheadú nó a dhéanamh, a chuireann tascradh den sórt sin ar chumas duine ar bith,
(c) aon trealamh a shealbhú, a mhonarú, a chóimeáil, a allmhairiú, a sholáthar nó a thairiscint lena sholáthar ar trealamh é atá deartha nó oiriúnaithe lena úsáid chun tascradh den sórt sin a chur ar chumas duine ar bith, nó
(d) faisnéis a fhoilsiú le hintinn cabhrú le haon duine nó a chur ar a chumas seirbhís den sórt sin a thascradh.
(2) (a) Ní dhéanfaidh aon duine, go feasach, aon trealamh a shuiteáil ná ní fhéachfaidh sé go feasach lena shuiteáil ná lena chothabháil ar trealamh é a d'fhéadfaí a úsáid nó a dearadh nó a oiriúnaíodh lena úsáid chun tascradh den sórt sin a chur ar chumas aon duine, ná
(b) ní dhéanfaidh aon duine damáiste go toiliúil ná ní fhéachfaidh sé le damáiste a dhéanamh go toiliúil do chóras ná do chuid de chóras a oibríonn ceadúnaí nó soláthraí seirbhíse.
(3) Beidh duine a sháróidh aon fhoráil d'fho-alt (1) nó (2) ciontach i gcion.
(4) San alt seo ciallaíonn “tascradh” i ndáil le seirbhís an tseirbhís, nó cuid den tseirbhís, a sholáthraíonn ceadúnaí nó soláthraí seirbhíse a ghlacadh, a bhreathnú, a éisteacht, a thaifeadadh ar aon mhodh nó substaint nó brí na seirbhíse sin nó na coda sin a fháil gan comhaontú an cheadúnaí nó an tsoláthraí seirbhíse.
Toirmeasc ar úinéir áitribh mar a dtarlaíonn gníomh nó iompar toirmiscthe.
10.—(1) Aon duine is úinéir ar aon áitreabh nó a bhfuil aon áitreabh faoina urláimh nó a bhfuil baint aige le bainisteoireacht an chéanna, ní cheadóidh sé ná ní ligfidh sé, go feasach, d'aon ghníomh nó iompar lena mbaineann alt 9 tarlú ar an áitreabh sin.
(2) Beidh duine a sháróidh fo-alt (1) ciontach i gcion.
(3) I gcás go gcruthaítear in imeachtaí i leith ciona faoin alt seo go ndearnadh cion in áitreabh áirithe nó ar áitreabh áirithe agus, tráth déanta an chiona líomhnaithe, gurbh é an cosantóir úinéir an áitribh nó go raibh an t-áitreabh faoina urláimh nó go raibh baint aige le bainisteoireacht an chéanna ansin, measfar, mura bhfuil fianaise leordhóthanach eile ann le ceist a tharraingt anuas cé acu a cheadaigh nó nár cheadaigh an cosantóir déanamh an chiona go feasach, gur cheadaigh sé an cion a dhéanamh nó gur lig sé dó tarlú.
Pionóis.
11.—(1) Duine a bheidh ciontach i gcion faoi alt 9 nó 10 dlífear:
(a) ar é a chiontú go hachomair, príosúnacht ar feadh téarma nach faide ná trí mhí nó, de rogha na cúirte, fíneáil nach mó ná £1,000, a chur air, nó
(b) ar é a chiontú ar díotáil, príosúnacht ar feadh téarma nach faide ná dhá bhliain nó, de rogha na cúirte, fíneáil nach mó ná £20,000, nó an fhíneáil sin agus an phríosúnacht sin le chéile, a chur air.
(2) I gcás comhlacht corpraithe do dhéanamh ciona faoi alt 9 nó 10 agus go gcruthófar go ndearnadh é le toiliú nó le cúlcheadú, nó gur inchurtha é i leith aon fhaillí ar thaobh, aon duine is stiúrthóir ar an gcomhlacht corpraithe nó arb é bainisteoir nó rúnaí an chomhlachta é nó ar oifigeach eile den sórt sin don chomhlacht corpraithe é, nó aon duine a d'airbheartaigh bheith ag gníomhú in aon cháil den sórt sin, beidh an duine sin, chomh maith leis an gcomhlacht corpraithe, ciontach sa chion sin agus dlífear imeachtaí a shaothrú ina choinne dá réir sin.
(3) D'ainneoin alt 10 (4) den Petty Sessions (Ireland) Act, 1851, féadfar imeachtaí achoimre mar gheall ar chion faoi alt 9 nó 10 den Acht seo a thionscnamh tráth ar bith laistigh de dhá bhliain ó thráth déanta an chiona.
Trealamh a fhorghéilleadh.
12.—(1) Ar dhuine a chiontú go hachomair nó ar é a chiontú ar díotáil i leith ciona faoi alt 9 (1) (c) nó 9 (2) (a) féadfaidh an Chúirt a ordú go ndéanfar aon trealamh a úsáideadh ag déanamh an chiona a fhorghéilleadh don Aire.
(2) Féadfaidh an tAire déileáil le haon ní a fhorghéillfear amhlaidh, nó an ní sin a dhiúscairt, de réir mar is cuí leis.
(3) Déanfar glan-fháltais aon ní a dhíolfaidh an tAire de bhun an ailt seo a íoc isteach sa Státchiste nó a chur chun tairbhe don Státchiste ar cibé slí a ordóidh an tAire Airgeadais.
Dualgas cruthúnais.
13.—In imeachtaí mar gheall ar chion faoi alt 9 nó 10 ní gá a bhréagnú le fianaise go bhfuil comhaontú le ceadúnaí nó le soláthraí seirbhíse ar marthain agus dá réir sin is faoin gcosantóir a bheidh sé a chruthú go bhfuil comhaontú den sórt sin ar marthain.
Barántais chuardaigh.
14.—(1) Féadfaidh Breitheamh den Chúirt Dúiche, ar fhaisnéis faoi mhionn ó chomhalta den Gharda Síochána go bhfuil foras réasúnach ann lena chreidiúint go bhfuil cion faoi alt 9 nó 10 á dhéanamh nó déanta in áit shonraithe, barántas cuardaigh a dheonú don chomh alta sin den Gharda Síochána a bheidh sainráite agús a oibreoidh chun a údarú don chomhalta den Gharda Síochána dá ndeonaítear é dul isteach, agus sin le forneart más gá, san áit a bheidh ainmnithe san fhaisnéis a dúradh agus trealamh lena mbaineann alt 9 (1) (c) nó 9 (2) (a) a chuardach ansin agus an trealamh sin go léir a gheofar ansin a scrúdú agus an trealamh sin go léir nó aon chuid de a urghabháil agus a thógáil chun siúil.
(2) (a) Oibreoidh barántas cuardaigh a bheidh deonaithe faoin alt seo chun údarás a thabhairt d'aon duine amháin nó níos mó díobh seo a leanas, eadhon, aon chomhalta den Gharda Síochána nó aon duine a bheidh údaraithe ag an gcomhalta den Gharda Síochána dá ndeonaítear an barántas a bheith ina theannta agus cabhrú leis agus é ag feidhmiú na gcumhachtaí a thugtar dó leis an mbarántas sin.
(b) Féadfaidh an comhalta den Gharda Síochána dá ndeonaítear an barántas aon rud a choinneáil a bheidh urghafa faoin alt seo agus a gcreideann sé gur fianaise é ar aon chion nó cion amhrasta faoi alt 9 (1) (c) nó 9 (2) (a) lena úsáid mar fhianaise in imeachtaí i ndáil le haon chion den sórt sin, go ceann cibé tréimhse is réasúnach ó dháta na hurghabhála nó, má thosaítear imeachtaí ina mbeidh an rud a urghabhadh amhlaidh ag teastáil lena úsáid i bhfianaise, go dtí go mbeidh deireadh leis na himeachtaí, agus déanfaidh an comhalta den Gharda Síochána, a luaithe is féidir, aon rud den sórt sin a sheachadadh ar an duine arb é úinéir an ruda sin é ina thuairim agus i gcás go gcinnfidh an comhalta den Gharda Síochána nach féidir leis an duine sin a fhionnadh, ansin, ar agus ó dháta an chinnidh uaidh, beidh feidhm ag an Police (Property) Act, 1897, maidir leis an rud a urghabhadh amhlaidh.
(3) (a) Aon duine a dhéanfaidh, trí ghníomh nó neamhghníomh, bac nó cosc a chur ar chomhalta den Gharda Síochána nó ar aon duine eile agus é ag feidhmiú cumhachta a bheidh tugtha leis an alt seo, beidh sé ciontach i gcion.
(b) Aon duine a dhéanfaidh, le hintinn bac nó cosc a chur ar chomhalta den Gharda Síochána nó ar aon duine eile agus é ag feidhmiú cumhachta a bheidh tugtha leis an alt seo, aon rud a shuíomh, a thógáil, a shuiteáil, a choimeád nó a chothabháil, beidh sé ciontach i gcion agus más rud é go leanfar den bhac nó den chosc tar éis an chiontaithe, beidh sé ciontach i gcion breise gach lá a leanfar de amhlaidh.
(c) Gach duine a bheidh ciontach i gcion faoin bhfo-alt seo dlífear, ar é a chiontú go hachomair, fíneáil nach mó ná £500 a chur air.
Leigheasanna sibhialta.
15.—(1) I gcás go líomhnóidh ceadúnaí nó soláthraí seirbhíse go bhfuil aon ghníomhaíocht nó iompar a thoirmisctear le halt 9 á dhéanamh, déanta nó go bhfuiltear ar tí é a dhéanamh agus dá dhroim sin gur bhain, go mbaineann nó go bhféadfadh go mbainfeadh damáiste dó, beidh sé i dteideal na leigheasanna seo a leanas a éileamh i gcoinne an duine atá freagrach—
(a) ordú ón Ard-Chúirt nó ón gCúirt Chuarda a shrianfaidh an duine ar an ngníomhaíocht nó ar an iompar a bhfuiltear ag gearán faoi a sheoladh, nó ar fhéachaint lena sheoladh;
(b) damáistí nó, de rogha an ghearánaí, cuntas brabús.
(2) Is le foriarratas a dhéanfar iarratas chun na hArd-Chúirte nó chun na Cúirte Cuarda ar ordú dá dtagraítear i bhfo-alt (1) agus féadfaidh an chúirt, agus an t-ábhar á bhreithniú aici, cibé ordú eatramhach nó idirbhreitheach (más ann) a dhéanamh a cheapann sí is iomchuí.
(3) Aon iarratas chun na Cúirte Cuarda faoi fho-alt (1) déanfar é chun an bhreithimh den Chuaird mar a líomhnaítear an ghníomhaíocht nó an t-iompar a bheith á dhéanamh nó déanta nó ar tí a dhéanta nó mar a gcónaíonn an duine a líomhnaítear a bheith freagrach.
Forálacha a leathnú.
16.—(1) Féadfaidh an tAire le hordú, faoi réir cibé eisceachtaí is dóigh leis is cuí, forálacha ailt 9 go 15 a leathnú (faoi réir cibé modhnuithe is dóigh leis is cuí) chuig aon aicme sheirbhíse a tharchuirtear le raidió-theileagrafaíocht ar seirbhís í a mbeartaíonn an soláthraí seirbhíse nach nglacfaidh í ach daoine a íocfaidh táille leis an soláthraí seirbhíse.
(2) Baineann an t-alt seo le haon aicme sheirbhíse, cibé acu a tharchuirtear í ó áit laistigh nó lasmuigh den Stát, a tharchuirtear trí tharchur clár incriptithe.
(3) San alt seo ciallaíonn an téarma “tarchur clár incriptithe” tarchur i bhfoirm trína ndéantar na clos-sainghnéithe nó na hamharcshainghnéithe (nó iad araon) a mhodhnú nó a athrú d'fhonn cosc a chur le glacadh neamhúdaraithe an tarchuir sin ag daoine gan trealamh údaraithe atá deartha chun éifeachtaí an mhodhnaithe nó an athraithe sin a chealú.
(4) Féadfaidh an tAire le hordú aon ordú a dhéanfaidh sé faoin alt seo a chúlghairm nó a leasú.
(5) I gcás go mbeartaítear ordú a dhéanamh faoin alt seo leagfar dréacht den ordú faoi bhráid gach Tí den Oireachtas agus ní dhéanfar an t-ordú go dtí go mbeidh rún ag ceadú an dréachta rite ag gach Teach.
Leasú ar Acht 1926.
17.—(1) D'fhonn amhras a sheachaint, féadfaidh an tAire, má dhealraíonn sé dó gurb iomchuí é ar mhaithe le húsáid éifeachtúil ordúil na raidió-theileagrafaíochta, teorainn a chur leis an líon ceadúnas i leith aon aicme nó aicmí ar leith gairis le haghaidh raidiótheileagrafaíochta a dheonaítear de bhun alt 5 d'Acht 1926.
(2) Leasaítear leis seo Acht 1926 tríd an méid seo a leanas a chur isteach i ndiaidh alt 6 (2):
“(2A) Má cheapann an tAire é bheith fóirsteanach féadfaidh sé, trí ionstraim i scríbhinn, aitheantas mar cheadúnas bailí a thabhairt do cheadúnas a d'eisigh tír eile i leith aicme nó aicmí gairis le haghaidh raidiótheileagrafaíochta, faoi réir cibé coinníollacha nó srianta maidir le húsáid an ghairis sin is cuí leis an Aire.”.
Leasú ar an Acht Craolacháin agus Raidió-Theileagrafaíochta, 1988.
18.—Leasaítear leis seo fo-alt (4) d'alt 6 den Acht Craolacháin agus Raidió-Teileagrafaíochta, 1988, trí na focail “nó faoi alt 3 d'Acht 1926 arna leasú le halt 12 den Acht seo” a chur isteach tar éis na bhfocal “alt 3, 4 nó 5 den Acht seo”.
Aisghairm.
19.—Aisghairtear leis seo gach achtachán de na hachtacháin a luaitear sa Sceideal a ghabhann leis an Acht seo a mhéid a thaispeántar sa tríú colún den Sceideal sin.
Gearrtheideal.
20.—Féadfar an tAcht Craolacháin, 1990, a ghairm den Acht seo.
AN SCEIDEAL
Aisghairm
Uimhir agus Bliain | Gearrtheideal | Méid na hAisghairme |
Alt 20 (3), a cuireadh isteach le halt 14 d'Acht Uimh. 37 de 1976. | ||
Alt 25 (1A), (1B), a cuireadh isteach le halt 6 d'Acht Uimh. 7 de 1966. | ||
Alt 6. | ||
Alt 14 (2). |