Réada Cronin (Kildare North, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I was really looking forward to this meeting because it is very interesting to focus on these issues. My first question is to Dr. Robbins. He spoke about how the media sector is struggling, with advertising revenue decimated by technology platforms. Many young people get their news from those platforms. There is an issue regarding greenwashing advertising and the conflict of interest that must arise when television and radio stations rely on advertising as a huge form of income. In addition, much of the media is owned by companies that may be resistant to the huge and profound social changes we will have to make. Advertising drives us to consume more and more stuff we do not really need. I wonder how the work that is needed can be done while media are trying to give us news but are reliant on advertising to pay the people who are giving us the news. I am worried about that. Dr. Robbins said news reporters and editors want to be able to do their jobs and hold stakeholders to account. How can they do so when they are so reliant on advertising?

The point about habits was very interesting. The reason people go to the same toilet or sink is that our ape brain tells us doing so is what keeps us safe. During the Covid period, we were all pushed from using public transport and had to use our cars because doing so was safer, rather than breathing in air on overfilled public transport. I had a meeting last night with young people in Maynooth University at which we talked about how unreliable public transport is outside Dublin. I am a Deputy representing Kildare North. I asked whether any of these young people intends to buy a car. None of them does. I have asked this question a few times of a number of young people. They all realise that cars are not a good idea for the environment and the future but they cannot rely on public transport. We politicians will have to get better at addressing that issue.

I was interested in the observation that we have to inform the Government of many of the huge issues we make in our life, such as increasing our family or moving jobs. There is a lost opportunity in that. Will Dr. Robbins respond to some of those points?