The European Parliamentary Elections (Northern Ireland) Regulations 2004

Broadcasting of local items during election period

60.—(1) Each broadcasting authority shall adopt a code of practice with respect to the participation of candidates at a European Parliamentary election in items about the electoral region which are included in relevant services during the election period.

(2) The code for the time being adopted by a broadcasting authority under this section shall be either—

(a) a code drawn up by that authority, whether on their own or jointly with one or more other broadcasting authorities, or

(b) a code drawn up by one or more other such authorities;

and a broadcasting authority shall from time to time consider whether the code for the time being so adopted by them should be replaced by a further code falling within paragraph (a) or (b).

(3) Before drawing up a code under this section a broadcasting authority shall have regard to any views expressed by the Electoral Commission for the purposes of this regulation; and any such code may make different provision for different cases.

(4) The Office of Communications shall do all that they can to secure that the code for the time being adopted by them under this regulation is observed in the provision of relevant services; and the British Broadcasting Corporation shall observe in the provision of relevant services the code so adopted by them.

(5) For the purposes of paragraph (1) “the election period”, in relation to an election, means the period beginning with the last date for publication of notice of the election and ending with the close of the poll.

(6) In this regulation—

“broadcasting authority” means the British Broadcasting Corporation or the Office of Communications;

“candidate”, in relation to an election, means a candidate standing nominated at the election;

“relevant services”—

(a)

in relation to the British Broadcasting Corporation, means services broadcast by that body; and

(b)

in relation to the Office of Communications, means services licensed under Part I or III of the Broadcasting Act 1990 or Part I or II of the Broadcasting Act 1996.