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

I am currently examining how this issue and others can be overcome. It is a complex issue. Ireland could actually be regulating for the whole of Europe in respect of video-sharing platforms. That is approximately 450 million people and it brings various languages and cultural norms into it all. It is about how we would actually manage that volume. I am examining how these issues could be overcome in the context of that specific recommendation. That is where we are right now.

In regard to the levy, the Bill already provides that such a levy may be introduced by the media commission once its viability has been assessed with regard to whether or not it would have any negative effects. The proceeds of any such levy will go into a content production scheme from which producers could apply for funding, similar to the sound and vision scheme, with which the Senator will be familiar. I hope that answers the question.

In regard to the Future of Media Commission, that report currently lies with me and the Taoiseach. We will be consulting key Cabinet colleagues and then bringing it to government. As the Taoiseach said in recent weeks, the terms of reference and recommendations of that commission are pretty substantial so we are giving it consideration. We will consult the relevant Ministers and then bring it before Cabinet.

In regard to the basic income, the Senator may have heard me answer on that earlier. There is a key stakeholder agreement consultation on 8 December. We went out to tender for the facilitator of that and it will be a sort of global, café-style forum. I would like as broad a range as possible, which was the Senator’s question. It is so important that the sector is with us all the way in the design of this process, so I would see all of that being discussed on that key date of 8 December. The invites will issue shortly for that consultation process. Was there a final question?