Alan Dillon (Mayo, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I welcome our guests. It is great to have an array of representatives from different sectors. The final point made by the previous contributor, that no one should be left behind and we should have a level playing pitch, is important. When advertising revenue fell off a cliff during Covid, local print media was left behind in terms of access to funds. That shone a spotlight on the BAI and the sound and vision fund, which provided support for independent broadcasters but nothing for the print media. We in the Oireachtas heard that loud and clear from print media outlets in every constituency.

In the context of the recommendations of the report on the future of media, this meeting, with people from all parts of the public service media platforms, is important. We are here to discuss future business model plans and a long-term vision for the media sector. I refer to the 50 recommendations of the Future of Media Commission. I will forfeit my time to allow the witnesses to best express their asks so that we, as legislators, can formulate this and bring recommendations to the Government. What I am hearing loud and clear is that the establishment of funds, be that through schemes for court reporting, news reporting media access and training or community media, will ensure we can protect the viability, sustainability and continuation of public media services and that we have an economy to support jobs and new graduates that will be sustainable in the long term. I welcome the views of any of our guests in that regard, be they from the NUJ, Independent Broadcasters of Ireland or Newsbrands. I want to hear from each medium. I will open it up to the contributors to give their asks in terms of where we need to go in the coming months and the structure that is needed, be that in the short, medium or long term.