Catherine Martin (Dublin Rathdown, Green Party) | Oireachtas source

On the concerns around governance and culture and the two reports commissioned by the Government last July, the difference between them and all the other reports is that there will be recommendations. Everything else has been findings. There will be recommendations in relation to the €40 million in funding and that money being released. We will be looking at those recommendations being implemented. That is part of the monitoring we will be do with NewERA and the Department of Public Expenditure, NDP Delivery and Reform.

On the register of interests, the due date for its establishment is January 2024. There is also a register of external activities. I expect to see the register of interests and I will link that to the release of any of that €40 million. In interviews following the publication of the strategic vision, I heard the director general refer to the fact that the registers will be coming in January. I definitely expect that timeline to be fulfilled.

On media funding, I have said several times at this committee that the Monaghan girl in me absolutely values local radio and the local newspaper. When we get the long-term sustainable model in place, it will not just be for RTÉ. The Future of Media Commission proposed that €30 million be ring-fenced for media funds to help support other providers. What we have done in the budget is similar to the interim model for RTÉ. We have ring-fenced €6 million that will be provided next year for local democracy and court reporting. There has been extensive engagement on this with the industry. We want this to provide what the industry needs. We will see that next year. The aim is to announce those schemes next year. As I said, the long-term sustainable model will cover them as well.

I believe the Arts Council is looking at the music industry.

I will ask officials to follow up to see where that is.