Calls for new laws to deliver TV subtitles

THE National Association for the Deaf yesterday demanded proposed television broadcasting subtitling recommendations should be enshrined in legislation.

One-in-five viewers countrywide have a hearing imparity.

In separate developments yesterday, the Broadcasting Commission of Ireland (BCI) outlined its proposals for new rules on television subtitling while Fine Gael proposed a legislative route for a captioning service.

The National Association for the Deaf (NAD) said it would endorse the main opposition party’s proposal for legislation.

Chief executive of NAD Niall Keane said: “The BCI gave a commitment in April 2001 to implementing rules on subtitling. Now we are being told the guidelines will be in place in April 2004 “Unfortunately, there’s no legislation to mandate the television companies to implement the guidelines. We would opt for the Fine Gael proposal.

“We call on the minister to recognize our case and support the early enactment of provisions for a legislative process,” he said.

RTÉ currently captions 68% of peak-time programming, TG4 captions 50% while TV3 only subtitles Coronation Street.

The BCI said a consultative forum was critical to the development of the proposed rules.

An independently-chaired forum, meeting in October for the first time, has set an April timeframe for finalising the rules.

However, Deputy Simon Coveney said Fine Gael’s proposed bill was aimed at achieving a 2007 target of having 90% of all programmes captioned by 2007.

The party’s communications’ spokesman said a 60% target was achievable by 2004.

“Issuing guidelines and recommendations without the back up of clearcut legislation will simply fail to deliver the type of service that other countries’ broadcasters provide to their deaf and hard-of-hearing populations,” Mr Coveney said.

The BBC has given a commitment to 100% captioning by 2008 while Canada has already achieved that target. The USA is aiming for 95% of all programmes subtitled by 2006.

NAD’s Mr Keane said: “It has always been our position that this issue has to be stitched into legislation, not as an act of charity but as a matter of law.”