Micheál Carrigy (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I welcome our witnesses. Today's meeting came about from our engagement in the autumn with local radio stations and local and national newspapers. As a committee, all through Covid, we have been pushing to get supports, whether that is VAT, etc., to try to maintain our local, regional and national newspapers because they are under extreme stress. The Government has been forthcoming with support over those years but this was highlighted as a major issue of concern in the industry, which is why we are here today. I was interested in the statement by Ms McKay from the Office of the Press Ombudsman that using its process "does not preclude subsequent legal action" if need be. I think it was in the last line that by going through the Office of the Press Ombudsman, one acknowledges a respect for democracy. Does Ms McKay feel the significant number of current legal cases affects democracy? We are leading into local, European and general elections in the next six to 15 months. Is it her view - I may ask others - that perhaps all political parties should sign up to a charter that they would go to the Press Council of Ireland with any complaints or issues and not go down the legal route?