The Broadcasting Authority of Ireland (BAI) has launched a public consultation on proposals for a revised draft Code of Programme Standards that will apply to all Irish broadcasters.

Under the Broadcasting Act of 2009, the BAI must prepare codes and routinely review their impact.

Following a review of the current Code of Programme Standards, which has been in operation since 2007, the authority has prepared a revised draft Code of Programme Standards and is now seeking the views of the public, broadcasters and interested organisations.

The draft code contains seven guiding principles: the respect for community standards; importance of context; protection from harm; protection of children; respect for persons and groups in society; protection of the public interest; and respect for privacy.

‘Challenging task’

Speaking at the launch of the public consultation period which will last until August 22nd, the chairman of the BAI, Bob Collins, said to update standards was a "challenging task, not least because there is no absolute, universally shared sense of what standards are or what should be observed".

He said that the code should be seen as a service to both broadcasters and audiences.

“It does not attempt to limit the reasonable editorial freedom of any broadcaster.

Rather, it recognises the entitlement of the audience to have its deeply held convictions respected, its complexity and diversity recognised and reflected and those who are vulnerable protected.