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

Absolutely and I stand by that. We had to wait for the expert advisory committee reports to land and they were delayed. This is the only reason. It has absolutely nothing to do with the local or European elections. I am absolutely determined to take the decision we made at Cabinet, with a recommendation from the Government, before the summer recess because public service media is critical to a well-functioning democracy but it is also essential for cultural development, social cohesion and well-being. As such, it requires a funding model that provides long-term certainty, is sustainable and, vitally, protects the independence of media providers.

Such funding is not only crucial for our public service broadcasters, TG4 and RTÉ, but also for independent producers and the wider national, local and community broadcasters who are currently supported through the Sound and Vision scheme. Any new funding model will also need to support print and online media outlets delivering public service content. This will be delivered through the new local democracy and courts reporting schemes that are set to launch later this year.

A range of options has been considered through which this funding can be delivered, including Exchequer funding. As I have stated previously, and again in my reply to Deputy Munster earlier, what matters is that the option the Government selects is sustainable, publicly acceptable and protects media independence. Given the impact the RTÉ controversy has had on TV licence revenue since last July, a new model for funding public service content is of even greater importance now and the Government is committed to being the one that implements this much needed change. High-level discussions on the various options open to Government have continued to take place over the past year.

As I have said on many occasions, a final decision on reform of the funding model could not be made until the independent reviews into governance and culture and HR and related matters at RTÉ were completed. These reports have now been published. RTÉ has accepted in principle all of the recommendations and is preparing a detailed response to continue the necessary reform of the broadcaster. It is, therefore, timely that Government also proceeds with the reform required of the public service media funding model.

We will, as I have said before, make our decision before the summer recess. Any change to the model will require an implementation period, from both a legislative and administrative perspective. In the interim, I urge everyone who is required to have a TV licence to purchase or renew it so the public service content, which the TV licence supports across all broadcasters, can continue to be provided for the benefit of us all.

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