338 Mr. Ring asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage Gaeltacht and the Islands the plans she has to lift the ban on the independent broadcasters of Ireland regarding political advertising on television and radio. [19466/01]

347 Mr. Boylan asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage Gaeltacht and the Islands if she will consider lifting the ban on political advertising on television and radio, particularly on local radio, in order that people can become better informed of the issues involved, in view of the recent low turn out on the referendum on the Nice treaty. [18893/01]

348 Mr. McGuinness asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage Gaeltacht and the Islands the plans she has to lift the ban on political advertising on television and radio; if she has received a submission on this issue; and if legislation is planned in this regard. [18924/01]

350 Mr. Neville asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage Gaeltacht and the Islands if she will lift the ban on political advertising on television and radio as outlined in the presentation by a group (details supplied). [18962/01]

I propose to take Questions Nos. 338, 347, 348 and 350 together.

The prohibition on advertising directed towards a political end is a statutory prohibition and I have no power to lift it. Section 20(4) of the Broadcasting Authority Act, 1960, imposes the prohibition in relation to the broadcasting services of RTE and section 10(3) of the Radio and Television Act, 1988, in relation to broadcasting services established under that Act. The Oireachtas, through section 18 of the Broadcasting Act, 2001, recently decided to extend the prohibition to all content contracts entered into by the Broadcasting Commission of Ireland provided for in the Act. I have no plans to introduce legislation amending these provisions.