Ms Celene Craig:

I assure the Senator that we have not seen the recommendations of the Future of Media Commission. We are awaiting the report with as much interest as the members of the committee.

Several years ago when the Government invited submissions on this, the BAI supported a household charge. Our approach was that there needed to be a broader basis for ensuring support for public service broadcasters and, more generally, for public service media content. That is the thrust of our submission to the Future of Media Commission. We were very strong in making that point. The best mechanism is obviously a matter for the Government. The key point we would make is the real value and need to support public service content, including support for the two public service broadcasters, RTÉ and TG4. That is the case with all those offering public service content, including many national and local radio stations or the commercial television channel, Virgin Media. We are also mindful, although they are outside our remit, of what local and national print media bring to the sphere of news, public debate and democratic discourse more generally. We strongly support the need to look at ways of ensuring future sustainability. Our work around funding for the two public service broadcasters has very much been guided by that principle and the belief in the value that public service broadcasting and content brings to democratic discourse here. That is probably needed more than ever, particularly in light of the amount of misinformation and disinformation available to users online. It is a vital requirement. Covid particularly highlighted the value of such services and content. There is broad recognition around Europe that it needs to look at ensuring the future sustainability of our indigenous and traditional forms of media.