Michael Lowry (Tipperary, Independent) | Oireachtas source

In the years before this virus ravaged our country, an industry as old as time has been suffering a slow but largely ignored demise. The local newspaper industry as we know it is dying before our eyes and if it is allowed to continue, it will not just herald the end of an industry but it will also mark the end of an era. The threats faced by the local print newspaper industry are many. Falling advertising revenue, rising production costs and the growing popularity of online news are touted as the biggest dangers to the survival of local newspapers.

However, the mass takeover of newspapers by big media companies is the greatest threat of all. Originally, local newspapers were largely family-owned. This gradually changed to ownership dominated by Irish, Scottish and Northern Irish companies. In more recent years, media conglomerates arrived. They swept the country, buying up title after title for a mere fraction of the price their predecessors had paid. In doing so, they changed the heart of local newspapers. In my constituency of Tipperary, three of the four titles are now published by the same company, Formpress, a subsidiary of Iconic Newspapers. It now controls these three titles that heretofore thrived on their competitiveness and individuality. This clearly represents a media monopoly, which in turn is a disincentive to journalistic autonomy and traditional rivalry. Dedicated local journalists and contributors made these titles household names. Their hard work, local knowledge and empathy with communities, combined with the integrity of their reporting, built a bond and trust with the public. These titles are being ransacked of their unique, distinctive style and character. Most of these titles are limping along, devoid of funds, with no clear direction. The human touch seems to hold no value in this so-called progression of local journalism. It is no longer about bringing the stories and spreading the news. Local papers are now the focus of ambition and greed.

When the Covid virus struck, many journalists were stood down, not knowing whether it was temporary or permanent. Little or no conversation, discussion or explanation happened, just a crude swing of the axe and a distant diktat. Numerous people working for these publications feel hurt and disillusioned by the manner of their treatment. It is sad to see journalists who we admire and respect being treated so shabbily. Covid will have severe implications for everyone.

It will also impact in many other ways such as lifestyles, traditions and customs. We all know and accept that change is inevitable. Irrespective of the business, one can only survive by adapting and embracing new ways of doing things, responding to consumer demand and trends. In some instances it will be difficult to distinguish between the genuine need for change and those who will use Covid-19 as the excuse for rationalisation. Unfortunately, some companies and organisations will take advantage of Covid to make sweeping changes with consequences for job security and terms of employment.

I fear for the future of traditional provincial publications as they bow to monopoly ownership. While primarily businesses, local newspapers are also a vital service provider. They are the windows of local communities. They give a snapshot of all that is relevant to local people at a given time. They reflect the lives and concerns of people in their area and provide a platform for local voices. These newspapers keep people informed on issues that matter locally and every week they provide what will one day be an invaluable history of every corner of our country.

Local newspapers scrutinise and hold local decision makers to account. In order to do this, they need to be an independent voice. I ask the Minister to listen to their voice. I ask him to explain how media conglomerates were permitted to sweep across Ireland and buy up almost every newspaper title in the country. Why does this sector not come under the ambit of a regulator, similar to local radio? What regulations are in place for media ownership? I ask the Minister not to allow what has been happening to local newspapers to continue. The incoming Minister with responsibility for communications must sit down with the National Union of Journalists as a matter of urgency to address the problem of media ownership in Ireland, to acknowledge the issues plaguing the industry on the ground and to formulate a way forward that restores, supports and secures the future of local print media.

The outgoing Government signed off on a €3 billion national broadband plan. Just four months later we found ourselves in the midst of a pandemic that ground our country to a halt. Life changed completely in a short few days. Offices and businesses across the country closed and those who could do so were asked to work from home. Students left their desks and their education continued with online classes and electronically submitted homework - that is for those who lived in an area with dependable Internet and a good broadband connection. Never before has the need for reliable high-speed broadband in rural Ireland been more apparent. I have come across cases where people were unable to work from home and where students could neither receive nor submit assignments.

The issue is further compounded in areas of Tipperary where high-sped broadband has been introduced, but major black spots remain. It is common to find rural roads where the majority of properties have access to broadband but a few homes or businesses in the middle have no service. As recently as this morning I was contacted by a farmer living in Tipperary in an area currently covered by a fibre broadband network. For more than 12 months his neighbours have had access to high-speed connection. While the actual fibre connection passes this farmer's entrance, he has been told his connection cannot be completed because his property, like many other traditional farm settlements is approximately 400 m from the main road. He has been informed it is not commercially viable to provide him with a connection and he will have to wait to be connected under the State intervention plan.

Simply put, high-speed broadband is not a luxury for rural Ireland; it is in fact a necessity. I ask the Minister if the plan is in line. I ask him to advise me in writing or this evening as to the progress made in the roll-out of broadband across Tipperary and the timescale involved for its completion.

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