Niamh Smyth (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I thank everyone for being here today for this momentous occasion. As everyone knows, we have never had a committee meeting in the Seanad before. The Cathaoirleach of the Seanad, Senator Mark Daly, very kindly offered us this space because of the importance of the topic we are discussing but also as part of the commemoration celebrations of Seanad 100. I thank the Cathaoirleach for extending the invitation and loaning these very beautiful surroundings to us today. It is very much appreciated. It is a lovely change from our committee room which can sometimes feel like a dungeon when we are buried downstairs. Everyone here is well used to our committee rooms but we are in a lovely, airy and beautiful space today.

I thank the staff, most especially the committee secretariat. I will thank them at the beginning of the meeting rather than the end because sometimes we can forget to do so. There is no way this meeting would have taken place without Ms Laura Pathe and her team in the secretariat. They have been in constant contact with the Cathaoirleach, our witnesses, members and the staff of the Cathaoirleach's office to make this happen. I ask for a nice, warm round of applause for our staff.

We have received apologies from Deputies Munster, McGrath and O'Sullivan and also Senator Cassells of all people. Senator Cassells is a journalist and vocal advocate for the industry but he has parliamentary business to attend in Warsaw. He sends his apologies and is very much in support of the witnesses' views. We know their view will be not only comprehensive but also collective. I hope that mindset will prevail when it comes to the future of media, which is the subject of today's discussion. I am delighted we have such a wide range of stakeholders from radio and print media journalism in attendance to discuss and deliberate on the future business model plans and long-term vision for the media sector.

I thank the Cathaoirleach of the Seanad for granting the joint committee the use of the very beautiful surroundings today. The committee is most grateful to be able to join in the series of public consultations that have been and will be held in Seanad Éireann this year to commemorate its centenary. It is an important milestone in our nation's democracy. With that, I will hand over to the Cathaoirleach to speak a few words of welcome.