Broadcasters who fail to abide by a proposed new code of conduct on children's advertising may be taken off air, the Minister for Communications, Mr Ahern, said today.
Speaking before meeting the new board of the Broadcasting Commission of Ireland (BCI) this afternoon, Mr Ahern said he expected a draft of a new children's advertising code in the New Year.
The BCI can include whatever measures it sees fit to protect Irish children in the code - including an outright ban on children's advertising.
The BCI board will hear that the new children's advertising code will be an "important blueprint for the future". The public will be asked to make submissions on the draft before it is finalised next summer.
The BCI has already undertaken research into children's viewing habits and will consult children on the issues involved.
Mr Ahern said he would be pressing ahead with a new Broadcasting Authority of Ireland as a single content regulator for both public and independent broadcasters. He said a bill should be submitted to Government for approval in the first half of 2004.
A new public sector broadcasting fund, to be funded by 5 per cent of net television licence fees, will be completed shortly. The fund will be worth some €8 million in 2003 and will be administered by the BCI pending the establishment of a new Broadcasting Authority.
Other issues raised at today's meeting will include an independent review of local radio licensing which is under way. The report is due to be completed at the end of January.
Mr Ahern said other important work being undertaken by the BCI was the development of "access rules" for all broadcasters, which will require them to take account of groups such as the deaf and visually impaired in their programming.