Catherine Martin (Dublin Rathdown, Green Party) | Oireachtas source

I want to address the previous issues that I did not get to conclude. I have provided €5.5 million to commence recruitment of staff. The aim is to pass the Bill by the summer. With regard to recruitment, officials are engaging with the PAS and the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform. I expect to advertise for the key commissioner posts in coimisiún na meán in the second quarter of the year.

Deputy Murnane O'Connor asked about resourcing. Given the importance of an coimisiún, we approved the establishment on an administrative basis prior to the enactment of the Bill so we can move quickly with this. That is why I secured €5.5 million in the budget to provide the start-up funds to resource the establishment process. A programme of work is now under way to secure the recruitment of key staff who will have the relevant skills and expertise to establish and manage an coimisiún. This includes the recruitment of the online safety commissioner through an open, transparent and effective process managed by PAS. An coimisiún will ultimately be fully funded by the industry levy.

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