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

As a proud Monaghan woman, I fully agree with the Deputies on the public service value of the independent radio sector, particularly at local and regional level. I am sure Deputy Munster and I, living near each other as we do, listen to and value the same local and regional radio. Local radio stations are the very essence of public service broadcasting and, as Deputy Cannon and others said, they have proved a lifeline for many, particularly at the height of the Covid crisis, by providing critical local information and a vital sense of community when it was most needed.

Regarding the calls for the broadcasting levy to be suspended or reduced, we must keep in mind the regulatory principle that a regulated service should only contribute to the cost of functions related to that service. That is the intention of subsection 21(5) of the Bill. It is an important principle based on legal advice. Therefore, it is not possible for the levy on designated online services to be used to fund a reduction in a levy on broadcasters. This is an argument that was also made to me in a submission. Exchequer funding for 2023 for an coimisiún is an interim measure to enable it to get started quickly on its new functions. One of its priorities will be the preparation and making of a levy order to ensure it becomes self-funding as soon as possible in respect of its full range of functions and to ensure online platforms pay a levy to fund the regulation of those entities and their activities.

The amendment proposes that, "The Minister shall within 180 days of the passage of this Act lay before the Houses of the Oireachtas a report on provision for a reduction in the levy in recognition of the public information service provided by independent radio stations." I am very conscious of the challenges facing the independent radio sector. While I do not believe this legislation is the appropriate vehicle to address immediate economic pressure facing the sector, I am cognisant of the concerns expressed by Members and the sector itself. Although I do not propose to accept the amendment, I acknowledge Deputy Cannon's request that I look at all options. To that end, I intend to ask the Broadcasting Authority of Ireland, BAI, this week to engage with the sector with a view to understanding the dynamics of the current economic environment and its impacts on the sector. I am conscious that the temporary business energy support scheme has only recently opened for applications and its benefits have not even been felt. I will ask the BAI to examine the extent to which these horizontal support measures will assist in alleviating current financial pressures.

I am not ruling anything in or out at this juncture but it is important that we have robust and independent data to support any decision that might be taken. Rather than producing a report on a reduction in the levy within 180 days, as proposed in the amendment, I will ask the BAI to report back to me within 100 days, which would bring us into the first quarter of next year. Furthermore, when the executive chairperson of an coimisiún is formally appointed, I will meet that person and ask that he or she take into account Members' concerns when it comes to putting in place a new broadcasting levy order under an coimisiún na meán, which will take effect in 2024. I am looking at a report to me in the first quarter of 2023 and I am also looking to 2024 and a meeting with the executive chairperson. Of course, there also will be an in-depth engagement with the sector by an coimisiún na meán.

Reducing the broadcasting levy is not the only way to support the sector. The Bill provides for a scheme to enable local broadcasters to avail of grant funding to provide training or professional development for persons employed by or providing services to the broadcaster in regard to promoting good professional journalistic practices. As Minister, I have supported the independent radio sector. In budget 2023, I secured €6 million for the establishment of the media fund, which will facilitate a local democracy reporting scheme and a court reporting scheme.

They will be administered by coimisiún na meán and I would expect that local radio and newspapers would be well placed to benefit. My intention is that these would be in play and in a position to distribute before the end of 2023.

The sound and vision scheme operated by the BAI provides significant support to the broadcasting sector and since taking office, I have allocated an additional €17.4 million in Exchequer funding to the scheme, within which €5 million has been ring-fenced for independent commercial radio and €1.2 million has been ring-fenced for community radio. The sectors also benefit under some of the other schemes. I understand that the sound and vision scheme does not include news and current affairs but it has promoted and supported the long-term sustainability of the sector and it has been strongly welcomed by the sector for doing so. The sound and vision scheme has supported the provision of important public service content for the Irish public, as well as making a real and significant contribution to meeting the costs of producing content for the radio sector. That is why I am announcing that I have decided to provide funding of €2.5 million before the end of this year for another specific round of the sound and vision scheme for commercial radio, which will be rolled out through the BAI in 2023. The value of this funding is greater than the full-year cost of the levy for the commercial radio sector.

Those are my proposals in recognition of the concerns expressed by Deputies. I understand the concerns that Deputies Canney, Munster and Naughten have expressed and I am grateful to them for the amendments they put forward. I cannot accept the amendment but I have brought forward strong proposals to support the radio sector. Deputy Cannon asked me to explore all options and I hope he is in a position to accept that.

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