Mr. John Purcell:

The unavoidable direction of travel for news media on a local basis but also for people trying to provide an alternative on a national basis is the diminishing of the amount and quality of provision unless support is given. I am saying that for Ireland. It has not happened quite yet. Looking at the UK, the US and Europe, the levels of local news are nothing like the levels here of local news, and indeed the diversity of national talk and alternatives to state broadcasting in terms of broadcasting. We have a healthy ecosystem currently, which is, as I indicted in relation to election coverage, provided on the back of outstanding commitment and dedication by our teams, but we are at breaking point and we have been for quite a while, and have said it repeatedly. I was in at the Future of Media Commission more than five years ago and we said it. Not a cent has yet come from the funds allocated by the Future of Media Commission more than five years ago to independent broadcasting. We are a bit like broken records. Mr. Kelly outlined the money from Sound and Vision, which is a small amount in the overall scheme of things. Some €7.5 million, which was specially provided during Covid, was provided on an emergency basis. I would suggest that we are facing an emergency. One need only look at what is happening around the world in terms of misinformation, disinformation and so on.