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

Public service media is critical to our society, our distinct culture and language and our democracy. It requires and deserves a stable and sustainable funding model. I am strongly committed to securing a Government decision in that regard no later than the summer.

There are a number of options through which this aim can be delivered. It should be noted that I have not stated that direct Exchequer funding is the only way to do it. What I have said is that, given the impact the RTÉ controversy has had on TV licence revenue, further consideration of the Exchequer option is warranted. I have heard people raise concerns with regard to the potential risk of political interference in funding for public service media through the direct Exchequer funding model. However, this risk exists in all models, including the current model with respect to setting the level of the licence fee, or any household charge where, again, the level of charge would be set at political level. The challenge is to safeguard against these risks and the Future of Media Commission has set out such safeguards. These include funding levels being established and recommended by the independent regulator, Coimisiún na Meán, and limited scope for the Government to reject recommended funding levels were the direct Exchequer model to be decided on.

The real goal is to deliver a funding model for public service media that provides sufficient and stable funding, not only for our public service broadcasters, but also for the wider broadcasting and independent production sectors which are currently supported through the sound and vision scheme. It will also support print and online media delivering public service content through the new media fund. Coimisiún na Meán is currently developing the first schemes in that regard in respect of local democracy and court reporting. In order to achieve these aims, a number of potential options should be considered.

As I have stated on numerous occasions, high-level discussions on the report produced by the technical working group on TV licence reform are taking place, but a final decision will not be taken until after the reports of the two independent expert advisory committees are received. In advance of the matter being considered by the Government, it would not be appropriate for me to disclose either the options put forward by the technical working group or the discussions that are continuing with relevant Cabinet colleagues. However, the Government is absolutely committed to bringing forward a new funding model.

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