Malcolm Byrne (Wicklow-Wexford, Fianna Fail)
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I want to come back to slightly different issues within the Bill. We have not touched on the question of podcasts. This is an example of how media is changing. Broadcasters are not just broadcasters. I probably listen to more The Irish Times podcasts than I spend time actually reading articles. Obviously, a lot of the provision within this is around that. It is a critical way of media being covered. Our question is around how we define what podcasts can be covered. Related to that, my question is around a provision that applies more generally to those who would adhere to the codes or standards set by a widely recognised self-regulatory body such as the Press Council of Ireland. There would be concerns that the press council is almost letting anybody in at this stage, although not everybody. How do we deal with the situation whereby we have either platforms that are funded by individuals for very political purposes or those that adhere to particularly extreme political views that are recognised by the press council? Should they be allowed to be funded? I ask about podcasts and whether self-regulatory bodies should be allowed to proceed.