Mr. Noel Quinn:

The GAA thanks the committee for inviting it to make a submission regarding the revised general scheme of the broadcasting (amendment) Bill, particularly as we have taken steps to become a fully fledged live match broadcaster in our own right in the form of GAA+. Our owned and operated streaming platform is a move that mirrors global best practice and ensures the long-term media exposure befitting of our players’ skill and commitment. The service addresses the growing demand from our members for additional live and on-demand content, enables greater control of our own broadcast schedule and generates perpetual commercial revenue that is vital in sustaining the association’s overarching goal to foster lifelong participation in Gaelic games.

The association endorses many of the proposed key pillars of the revised scheme, acknowledging the evident ambition to provide greater value for money to Irish TV, radio and digital content consumers, many of whom are committed GAA members. Countless independent Irish production companies and freelance creatives work regularly with the GAA at national, provincial and club level to great effect. Positive changes to existing legislation that provide greater opportunity, nurture a broader talent pool and grant financial support to such parties will no doubt lead to greater diversity of Gaelic games storytelling and a fairer distribution of public funded moneys. We view the proposed obligation on RTÉ to spend 25% of public funding on independent productions, something that Coimisiún na Meán may increase pending ministerial approval within the three-year review period, as a mechanism to unlock greater diversity of thought, voice and storytelling about our games. As a client to many of Ireland’s fantastic home-grown production companies, the GAA strongly endorses change that seeks to nurture and provide additional support to the creative sector. Local stories told by local people are the bedrock of everyday Irish culture and should be a mainstay in our programming schedules.

The GAA is proud to generate employment for a substantial number of people operating within the industry throughout the year on both a facilities and freelance basis. In a submission that focuses on legislative change to support smaller independent companies, GAA+ is proud to state that it provides employment to up to 70 people over the course of the season. The association currently mandates additional Gaelic games programming, outside of live match coverage, within its current media rights contracts. This mandate has seen many fantastic GAA documentaries produced by the likes of Loosehorse, Nemeton, Coco Television, Crossing the Line and Poolbeg Productions aired on RTÉ and TG4 in recent years. Any proposed legislation that unlocks much-needed funding for the independent sector to deliver such Gaelic games narratives will always be strongly endorsed by the association. RTÉ and TG4 are key partners to the GAA. They provide thousands of hours of coverage to its membership across 300 matches and 80 highlights shows annually. That commitment on their part must be lauded, while also welcoming any new governance and operating regulation that seeks to improve efficiencies and greater transparency. In relation to the content levy and a circumstance which sees it introduced, the GAA respectfully suggests careful consideration of how it is imposed. Specifically, the disparity of ethos and resourcing between indigenous self-perpetuating organisations like the GAA and global content behemoths should be treated accordingly in how they may be levied. The GAA looks forward to continuing its long-standing relationship with RTÉ, TG4 and the Department in their shared journey towards providing a greater offering for the Irish population thanks to the revised general scheme of the broadcast (amendment) Bill.