Mr. Victor Finn:

On behalf of the Irish Music Rights Organisation, IMRO, and our 19,000 members in Ireland and worldwide, I thank the committee for the opportunity to address it. The future funding of media is more critical than ever. Media is a key component of our lives. With the growth in technology and the global nature of online platforms, the health of our indigenous media takes on even more importance. We have a good foundation to build on. We are fortunate that we have in our democracy a rich, diverse, accessible, independent and impartial media. This applies from the smallest community radio station to the plethora of local newspapers to the largest national broadcasters, print publications and national online services. We have commercial and publicly funded media in both Irish and English languages, providing a diverse variety of voices, opinions and topics to a national and increasingly international audience daily.

From IMRO’s point of view, an indigenous media sector is vital to our members. Songwriters, musicians, creators, performers and others depend on Irish media to share their music, and broadcasting continues to be one of the leading outlets for many of our members. The critical question is how we can best protect what we have and ensure its growth in the future. Our first recommendation is reform of the television licence fee. There are few topics that all broadcasters agree on, but the television licence fee reform is one. It has clearly outlived its use and its functionality. Advances in technology mean that phones, tablets and laptops are all taking the place of televisions in Irish homes, reducing the potential pool of people who pay. Added to this are the high levels of evasion and the relatively high cost of collection. This has the effect of impairing the funds available for public service broadcasting.

IMRO believes that the Government should either introduce a household broadcasting charge, as the Future of Media Commission recommended, or alternatively, for public service broadcasting to be funded directly from the Exchequer. Either option would result in increased funds collected and less evasion. The increased funds should be distributed to a greater number of media entities to ensure viability, sustainability, greater employment opportunities and the ability to grow and engage in long-term planning with the greater certainty provided by the visibility of ongoing long-term funding.

The second recommendation is for increased use of Irish music in broadcasting and online media outlets. For a whole host of reasons, Ireland needs healthy indigenous media, but in addition, Ireland must maintain and nourish its strong indigenous culture. Globally, indigenous cultures are under threat. This is due in no small part to the centralisation and influence of online media platforms. Irish culture, music, song, dance, art and writings have brought Ireland an internationally enviable reputation. Our cultural legacy needs to be fostered, nurtured and developed, and we need to do this by ensuring we have a viable Irish offering in traditional and online media outlets.

IMRO supports the introduction of a content levy payable by online platforms such as Netflix, Apple, Disney and others making content available in Ireland. The funds raised should be ring-fenced to guarantee levels of funding for the Irish production of television, film and music to allow these indigenous sectors to compete fairly on a global scale. This will ensure Irish music performers, creatives and musicians, among others, could continue to work at their craft.

Audiences are increasingly consuming creative content online. Consumers demand 24-7 access at a time and place of their choosing. Irish-originating creative productions need to be available on platforms to ensure consumer demand is satisfied and to maximise the potential reach of Irish creativity.

We need a co-ordinated and collective response and a central destination for all radio, television, music, podcasts, film and press. In essence, a global Irish media player is called for. Irish players can collaborate with the Government to deliver a well-resourced global portal of Irish audio and audiovisual productions.

We need a national music strategy. Music is an essential part of Irish culture and vital to our economy. More than 13,000 people work in the music industry in Ireland, contributing more than €700 million to the Exchequer. The Government can take the opportunity to protect and develop the industry by introducing a specific national music strategy with a specific remit to maximise exports. Included as part of this strategy, for example, would be an extension of the section 481 film tax qualifying criteria to include new Irish music creation to form part of the so-called cultural tests in film and television productions, and thereby an increased return on the taxpayers' investment.