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In December 2008, the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs launched a booklet, “Mobile Phones - A Parent’s Guide to Safe and Sensible Use”. The easy reference guide was published by the Irish Cellular Industry Association (ICIA), in association with the mobile operators Meteor, O2, Vodafone and 3 Ireland. The booklet helps parents gain a better understanding of mobile phones, from the basics, such as talk, text and email, to more complex facilities, such as playing music and videos or surfing the web. The primary aim is to inform parents, so as to encourage responsible and secure use of mobile...

Since November 2008, the Joint Oireachtas (Parliament) Committee on the Constitution has been reviewing the referendum process. Its first consideration has been the current arrangements whereby information is imparted to the public during referendum campaigns. To that end, the Committee has sought the views of broadcasters, media regulatory bodies and various others. In its submission, the Broadcasting Complaints Commission (BCC) said that 20 of the 21 complaints it received in relation to the referendum on the Lisbon Treaty alleged bias in favour of the Yes side. All were considered and all were...

A report of an Advisory Group on media mergers was published on 2 January 2009. The Group was established in March 2008 by the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment to review the current legislative framework regarding the public interest aspects of media mergers. The Group was asked to examine the relevant provisions of the Competition Act 2002 and, in particular, the “relevant criteria” specified in the Act, by reference to which the Minister currently considers media mergers. The terms of reference of the Group were: to review and to consider the current levels of plurality and diversity...

As a result of Ireland’s geographic position and low population density, there is an abundance of unused spectrum in Ireland. The Commission for Communications Regulation (ComReg) has been innovative in the allocation of unused radio spectrum. In 2005, it enhanced its Test and Trial wireless scheme to facilitate the development of new systems in a live environment. In March 2008, ComReg published a proposed strategy for managing radio spectrum (Document 8/20) for consultation. Following the consultation, which was generally positive, ComReg issued its Spectrum Management Strategy Statement 2008-2010...

North Rhine-Westphalia’s regional film fund Filmstiftung Nordrhein-Westfalen and the Irish Film Board ( Bord Scannán na hÉireann ) signed an agreement for the co-production of cinema films on 9 June 2008. The aim of the agreement is to intensify cultural and economic co-operation between firms located in the two regions with regard to internationally co-produced feature-length cinema and documentary films. This is to be achieved within the official framework of bilateral international agreements or the European Convention on Cinematographic Co-production, as well as by means of financial support...