Ireland

[IE] Draft Code of Programme Standards

IRIS 2006-9:1/23

Marie McGonagle

School of Law, National University of Ireland, Galway

At the beginning of September 2006, the Broadcasting Commission of Ireland (BCI) launched the third and final phase of the consultation process in the development of a new code of programme standards, as provided for by section 19 of the Broadcasting Act 2001 (see IRIS 2001-4: 9). The draft code includes provision for audience information and guidance by issuing prior warnings for programme material which has the potential to offend, by using the watershed or by implementing an evaluative or descriptive classification system (s.2.2). There are special provisions for the protection of children, for whom “broadcasters share a responsibility with parents”. Children for the purposes of the code are those under 18 and particular care must be taken in relation to children’s programming (s.3.6) but also to the scheduling of programmes either side of programmes that children are likely to watch, as well as during school-run times and school holidays (s.2.4). Regard must be had to the appropriateness or justification for the inclusion of violence in programmes generally and greater justification is required for graphic violence, sexual violence, self-harm including suicide and violence against children (s.3.1). Other provisions relate to the inclusion of sexual conduct (s.3.2), the portrayal of persons and groups in society (s.3.4), the portrayal of drugs, alcohol and solvent abuse (s.3.7) and standards for factual programming, i.e. news, current affairs and documentaries.