Timmy Dooley (Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

Before Ms Craig answers the second question, I have just had a thought. Would Ms Craig accept that the efforts of broadcasters generally to inculcate climate change issues into their news programmes have been really helpful? For a while a lot of it was in documentaries and various different programmes. I have noticed the difference myself even in the past number of months. Consider, for example, the way in which RTÉ has a specific correspondent for the environment, who is a former Member of this House. Does this focus and positioning of the subject within the news run tend to get greater attention than if the subject is appearing in a current affairs show or a magazine programme or whatever? It is the same with local media.

Newstalk is talking about it and it is in its news schedule every day, as issues arise, which seems to have elevated this to a better understanding among people. Irish people have a great level of trust in our mainstream media. We should therefore harness the best of what we have and fund that in a way that it remains to the fore, and is not an add-on, as broadcasters have significantly moved on this issue. That is perhaps as a result of the decisions that the Broadcasting Authority of Ireland, BAI, have taken and the way in which it is funding the sector.