Michael Lowry (Tipperary, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I have questions for the representatives of Celtic Media. It is obvious that the company has and had financial difficulties for a considerable amount of time. I note that in 2012 there was a management buy-out that involved €5.5 million of capital being put into the company. I ask the representatives to explain the finances of the company and what other options were considered. In the light of having examined those options, what is the alternative? If there is no alternative, does it mean the closure and loss of the titles?

It is all very fine for the experts here to tell us about what they would like to see and what we should have in terms of plurality. When it comes to the crunch this is about business, the economics of the business and whether the business can sustain itself. I am a very strong supporter of provincial media and local titles. In my own constituency of Tipperary we have three newspapers, namely, the Tipperary Star, The Nenagh Guardianand The Nationalist. They fulfil a valuable, important and influential role. The public has a great attachment to the titles and supports them on a week in, week out. I am also in contact with those people and I understand the precarious financial position they are in and how difficult it is for them to survive. Every other week they face declining revenue from advertisements. There has also been a huge drop in sales revenue due to the influence of local radio, digital and online options.

When it comes down to it, it is about survival. I would like the editorial independence of provincial groups preserved because it is hugely important to do so. Like some of my colleagues, I am not overly impressed with the editorial management of some of our national media over the past number of years. I am very familiar with how the Irish Independentoperated under its previous owners and the kind of standards that prevailed within that group at that time.

I have a few questions for the NUJ. The interests of its members were mentioned. Has the NUJ consulted its membership in the local titles to learn their views? Are they interested in the plurality of the media or in retaining their jobs? Would they prefer to see their jobs retained under new management or to see the titles lapse and go out of business?