James O'Connor (Cork East, Fianna Fail)
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13. To ask the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the status of the establishment of the media commission, including recruitment of staff; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [22110/22]

James O'Connor (Cork East, Fianna Fail)
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I wish to ask about the work the Government is undertaking on the establishment of the media commission, including the recruitment of staff. I would appreciate if the Minister of State could give the House some information on this important topic.

Jack Chambers (Dublin West, Fianna Fail)
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The Online Safety and Media Regulation Bill 2022 will, when enacted, formally dissolve the Broadcasting Authority of Ireland, BAI, and establish a new regulator, Coimisiún na Meán, which will be responsible for overseeing the regulation of broadcasting and video on-demand services and the new regulatory framework for online safety. Coimisiún na Meán will also have functions relating to the promotion of an open, trusted and pluralistic media and online environment, including research, education, media literacy, the protection of children and journalistic and creative supports. Given that infringement proceedings have been launched against Ireland for the delay in the transposition of the revised audiovisual media services directive, which will be given direct effect in Irish law by the Bill, we are keen to see the legislation enacted by the summer recess. This would pave the way for formal establishment of an coimisiún by ministerial commencement order in the second half of this year.

The Online Safety and Media Regulation Bill 2022 was initiated in the Seanad on 25 January last and moved to Second Stage on 22 February. Committee Stage of the Bill in the Seanad commenced on 26 April and continued on 28 April and yesterday, 4 May. The next Committee Stage session is scheduled for 10 May. Given the importance of an coimisiún, the Government has approved its establishment on an administrative basis prior to the enactment of the Bill. While an coimisiún will, as set out in the legislation, ultimately be funded through levies on regulated services, €5.5 million was secured in the 2022 budget to provide start-up funds to resource the establishment process.

A programme of work is now under way to secure the recruitment of key staff with the relevant skills and expertise to establish and lead an coimisiún and to lay the groundwork for the commencement of its regulatory functions. This includes managing the transition of BAI staff and functions to an coimisiún, while also ensuring the continuity of existing broadcasting regulation set out under the Broadcasting Act 2009.

The recruitment of the senior staff who will lead and manage an coimisiún is a priority.

Work is currently under way between my officials and officials from the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform and the Public Appointments Service to secure the recruitment of those staff, including the executive chairperson and online safety commissioner, through open, transparent and effective public competitions. In light of the international reach of an coimisiún's remit, the recruitment process will commence with an executive search by the Public Appointments Service, to raise the profile and awareness of these critical posts. I expect that this process will commence in the current quarter.

James O'Connor (Cork East, Fianna Fail)
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I thank the Minister of State for his informed response. I welcome that the legislation will provide for the establishment of a multi-person media commission. It is important that we realise we are living in an extraordinarily different time in terms of how people consume media and information. It is timely and perhaps a little bit behind time that the State is starting a body of work in this area. Urgency must be shown in this regard. Unfortunately, many younger people are susceptible to potential misinformation through forms of social media. It is quite concerning. We need to bring in regulations and safety mechanisms and put an individual in place to examine that work and issues that may arise.

Could the Minister of State give us a little bit more information about the hiring process? Is anything available to the House in that regard in the context of where we are after coming though a very difficult two years? I urge the Minister of State to get down to the body of work that it is ahead of him, because it is important that it happens.

Jack Chambers (Dublin West, Fianna Fail)
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I thank the Deputy for his questions. I have made reference to the executive search process and the work ongoing between the Public Appointments Service and the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform. That is expected to happen in this quarter. We estimate that approximately 121 personnel will be required for the start-up phase of Coimisiún na Meán with a number of these to be hired before formal establishment. An additional 33.5 staff are being sought for the commission to deliver on the recommendations of the Future of Media Commission. In addition, as provided for by the Bill, the staff of the BAI, who currently number 35 full-time equivalents, will transfer over to Coimisiún na Meán on its establishment. In the longer term it is envisaged that Coimisiún na Meán will require in excess of 300 staff to fully operationalise its functions as envisaged in the Online Safety and Media Regulation Bill 2022.

James O'Connor (Cork East, Fianna Fail)
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I appreciate the responses the Minister of State has given me today and the reassurance that this work is being undertaken by the Minister and the Department. I thank the Minister of State for his ongoing engagement. He has referred many times to the sports capital grant programme. We all look forward to those appeals being finalised. I look forward to further discussion with him in that regard.