Mr. Peter Feeney:

It is for historical reasons. Newspapers emerged in the 17th and 18th century at a time when governments did not regulate such things. The press industry developed in the 19th century completely independent of government. This tradition of independence of government has held up right through to the present day. There is an historical reason. Broadcasting on radio and television has been regulated by government since its inception. Most people would accept that broadcasting has a great deal of freedom of expression, as much as the print industry, and yet it is regulated. There is a feeling among editors and proprietors of newspapers that historically they have never been regulated by the Government and that it is important in terms of freedom of impression.

We will get people who say that because newspapers rely a lot on government-funded advertising, such as for road safety or Covid measures, that they are indirectly influenced by the fact their commercial relationship with government includes government advertisement. They are conspiracy theorists who say this. I do not know any journalist who pulls his or her punches about the Government simply because there is an advertisement about Covid from the HSE beside the article. It just does not happen like this. The conspiracy theorists might not believe me.