Shane Cassells (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I said at the outset that this is a particular interest of mine but I acknowledge that that cut in VAT last year was significant in allowing newspapers to have breathing space in the transitional period we are in. This is also the case with regard to the report of the Future of Media Commission, in allowing for funds which can be used. That is something that was done in the UK ten years ago and which I have been pushing for in respect of court and local authority reporting, regardless of whether one has paid for this or not. In that respect, I thank the witnesses. The fact is there is a representative body setting a high bar because it has asked us that it would not be treated differently than would be the case for a paid-for product. Setting a high bar and having those checks and balances in place is important in conversing with the body, in that such a high standard has been set. I hope the ten or 15 other newspapers, which are not members, would seek to get their product up to a high standard as part of our witnesses' group.