Broadcasting Act 2009

139ZM

F250[Report of authorised officer.

139ZM. (1) As soon as is practicable after the completion of an investigation F251[pursuant to a direction under section 139ZI(1)], the authorised officer shall prepare a draft report of the investigation.

(2) In preparing the draft report referred to in subsection (1), the authorised officer shall consider, in so far as they are relevant to the investigation—

(a) the terms of the investigation,

(b) the notice under section 139ZJ(1), and any response made by the F252[inquiry subject] to that notice under section 139ZJ(3),

(c) any relevant material or relevant equipment obtained in the course of the investigation in the exercise of powers under section 139ZK,

(d) any statement or admission made by any person in the course of the investigation pursuant to a requirement, or during an oral hearing, under F252[section 139ZK,]

(e) any submissions made by any person during an oral hearing under F252[section 139ZK,]

F251[(f) in the case of a Digital Services investigation which is a joint investigation, anything of a similar nature to the material, equipment, statements, admissions and submissions referred to in paragraphs (c) to (e), obtained by any participating Member State Digital Services Coordinator or other Member State competent authority, and

(g) any views communicated by the European Commission under Article 59(3).]

(3) The authorised officer shall, as soon as is practicable after preparing the draft report, give the F252[inquiry subject]

(a) a copy of the draft report,

(b) a copy of any material relied upon by the authorised officer in preparing the draft report,

(c) a copy of this section, and

(d) a notice in writing stating that the F252[inquiry subject] may, not later than 28 days from the date on which it receives the notice, or such further period as the authorised officer considers necessary, make submissions in writing to the authorised officer on the draft report.

(4) The authorised officer shall, as soon as is practicable after the expiration of the period referred to in subsection (3)(d), and having considered any submissions made under that subsection, make any revisions to the draft report which, in the opinion of the authorised officer are warranted, and finalise the report.

(5) An authorised officer shall not make any recommendation, or express any opinion, in a draft report under subsection (1) or in a final report under subsection (4), as to whether an administrative financial sanction should be imposed under section 139ZS in the event that the Commission is satisfied that the F252[inquiry subject] has committed a contravention, or as to the amount of any such sanction imposed.

(6) An authorised officer shall, as soon as is practicable after the draft report has been finalised under subsection (4), provide a copy of the final report to the F252[and any views to which subsection (7A) applies to the inquiry subject.]

(7) An authorised officer shall, as soon as is practicable after the draft report has been finalised under subsection (4), provide a copy of the final report F252[any submissions made in accordance with a notice under subsection (3)(d), and any views to which subsection (7A) applies], to the Commission.

F251[(7A) This subsection applies, in the case of a report under this section, to

(a) any views communicated by the European Commission under Article 59(3) in relation to the matter to which the report relates, and

(b) any views of Member State Digital Services Coordinators that Article 60(2) requires to be taken into account in relation to that matter.]

(8) An authorised officer may provide a copy of the final report, F252[any submissions made in accordance with a notice under subsection (3)(d), and any views to which subsection (7A) applies] to such other persons as he or she considers appropriate.

F252[(9) A person who receives a final report or any submissions or views under subsection (8) shall not, without the prior authorisation of the Commission, disclose the existence or the content of the report or those submissions or views to any other person.]

(10) A person who without reasonable excuse contravenes subsection (9) shall be guilty of a category 1 offence.]

Annotations

Amendments:

F250

Inserted (15.03.2023) by Online Safety and Media Regulation Act 2022 (41/2022), s. 47, S.I. No. 71 of 2023, other than insofar as it relates to a failure to comply with section 128B(1) or (2) or any rules made under section 128C.

F251

Substituted (17.02.2024) by Digital Services Act 2024 (2/2024), s. 22(a), (c)(i), (ii), (d), (e), (g), (h), S.I. No. 53 of 2024.

F252

Inserted (17.02.2024) by Digital Services Act 2024 (2/2024), s. 22(b), (c)(iii), (f), S.I. No. 53 of 2024.