Results 4,721-4,740 of 7,556 for speaker:Catherine Martin

Joint Committee on Tourism, Culture, Arts, Sport And Media: Future of Media Commission Report: Discussion (14 Sep 2022)

Catherine Martin: There is a parallel process as well. The technical group is up and running to look at reform of the TV licence but there is also an implementation group. This is exactly what the group will be looking at. It will examine what happens now, the actions that need to be taken and the stakeholder engagement and will come back to me with a plan. The implementation group will take all of that...

Joint Committee on Tourism, Culture, Arts, Sport And Media: Future of Media Commission Report: Discussion (14 Sep 2022)

Catherine Martin: Yes. Absolutely.

Joint Committee on Tourism, Culture, Arts, Sport And Media: Future of Media Commission Report: Discussion (14 Sep 2022)

Catherine Martin: That report is with me for consideration at the moment. I expect to bring it to Government very shortly. It is imminent. The Online Safety and Media Regulation Bill 2022 is coming before the Dáil next week. That will be followed by Committee Stage a few weeks later. I am aware of the urgency to get the report to the committee. It is with me now and I hope to bring it to my Cabinet...

Joint Committee on Tourism, Culture, Arts, Sport And Media: Future of Media Commission Report: Discussion (14 Sep 2022)

Catherine Martin: I will say "imminent".

Joint Committee on Tourism, Culture, Arts, Sport And Media: Future of Media Commission Report: Discussion (14 Sep 2022)

Catherine Martin: Would it help to send the committee the terms of reference for both groups?

Joint Committee on Tourism, Culture, Arts, Sport And Media: Future of Media Commission Report: Discussion (14 Sep 2022)

Catherine Martin: When I receive the reports in November, and once they are presented to Government, I am sure I can bring them to the committee. Would that help?

Joint Committee on Tourism, Culture, Arts, Sport And Media: Future of Media Commission Report: Discussion (14 Sep 2022)

Catherine Martin: Absolutely. I can arrange for officials to contact the committee on that.

Joint Committee on Tourism, Culture, Arts, Sport And Media: Future of Media Commission Report: Discussion (14 Sep 2022)

Catherine Martin: There were one or two questions in there. On the broader context, I believe that the 49 recommendations that have been accepted in principle by Government and the work that has been done on the reform of the TV licence will put us in a good place. The establishment by the Government of the Future of Media Commission was a recognition that something had to change. As the Senator has said,...

Joint Committee on Tourism, Culture, Arts, Sport And Media: Future of Media Commission Report: Discussion (14 Sep 2022)

Catherine Martin: Like the commission, I am concerned that RTÉ's financial situation needs to be stabilised. The Government is absolutely committed to our national broadcaster and to helping it operate on a more secure financial footing. NewERA and my Department will continue to engage with RTÉ on its financial situation and the commitment to deliver savings and efficiencies under the revised...

Joint Committee on Tourism, Culture, Arts, Sport And Media: Future of Media Commission Report: Discussion (14 Sep 2022)

Catherine Martin: Much of this will be addressed when I forward the terms of reference of that technical group to the committee but liability in the terms of reference means the extension of liability beyond owning a non-portable television set. It takes into account public possession, burden of proof, enforcement challenges and legal issues. It includes the revenue-generation potential of different options...

Joint Committee on Tourism, Culture, Arts, Sport And Media: Future of Media Commission Report: Discussion (14 Sep 2022)

Catherine Martin: We also have a meeting scheduled with NewsBrands Ireland next week ahead of the budget. Ultimately, VAT is a matter for the Minister for Finance but I have raised it with him and ongoing budgetary negotiations are happening on those issues and others. We mentioned local democracy and we looked at the court reporting scheme but it is by supporting content we will be supporting print. We...

Joint Committee on Tourism, Culture, Arts, Sport And Media: Future of Media Commission Report: Discussion (14 Sep 2022)

Catherine Martin: The Senator made the comparison of the current funding model of RTÉ and TG4. Both broadcasters receive a mix of public funding and commercially generated revenue. RTÉ receives 37% of its revenues from advertising but TG4 got 10% from this source. As the Senator said, RTÉ's funding comes mainly from the television licence, but TG4 is now funded directly by the Exchequer. TG4...

Joint Committee on Tourism, Culture, Arts, Sport And Media: Future of Media Commission Report: Discussion (14 Sep 2022)

Catherine Martin: That is a commercial matter outside the recommendations of the commission. I am aware of one broadcaster that is working on that issue with the big tech company. That is outside what we are discussing on the commission. The report recommends an assessment of the impact of the copyright directive. The second group, the implementation group, will look at that. That copyright directive...

Joint Committee on Tourism, Culture, Arts, Sport And Media: Future of Media Commission Report: Discussion (14 Sep 2022)

Catherine Martin: I seem to recall the Senator raising the RTÉ Player last year. RTÉ has acknowledged publicly that there is room for improvement with that. RTÉ operates in a different environment. The growth of streaming services and on-demand content means that traditional broadcasters need to catch up quickly and meet viewers' expectations. The Future of Media Commission report...

Joint Committee on Tourism, Culture, Arts, Sport And Media: Future of Media Commission Report: Discussion (14 Sep 2022)

Catherine Martin: The existing archiving fund will remain. The other funds are being added to it. I have not yet met the Minister of State. Today is the first day of the Dáil term. I am sure we will meet; I will probably bump into him today. I can get officials from the arts side of the Department to follow up with the Senator on the other issues he has raised.

Joint Committee on Tourism, Culture, Arts, Sport And Media: Future of Media Commission Report: Discussion (14 Sep 2022)

Catherine Martin: The issue the Senator raised regarding the Houses of the Oireachtas reporters is a matter for the Houses of the Oireachtas Service. It may be something he could ask a colleague on the commission to raise. I take his point on distribution, although that is probably for the businesses to engage on. He referred to salaries in RTÉ. That is an operational matter and, therefore, it would...

Joint Committee on Tourism, Culture, Arts, Sport And Media: Future of Media Commission Report: Discussion (14 Sep 2022)

Catherine Martin: I agree with the Chairman. As I said earlier, that diverse independent media sector is essential for the wider society and, as she said, our democracy, cultural development, well-being and social cohesion. Its content is a reflection of us as a society. Never have we felt that more than in the last few years. What the Chairman is really talking about is disinformation and I agree with her...

Joint Committee on Tourism, Culture, Arts, Sport And Media: Future of Media Commission Report: Discussion (14 Sep 2022)

Catherine Martin: We have the national counter-disinformation strategy and we have a well of expertise and staff. That is why I welcome the commission's recommendations to develop the national counter-disinformation strategy. The implementation group will consider the strategy because it is examining all of the recommendations, the timelines and the action of that, and I await its report.

Joint Committee on Tourism, Culture, Arts, Sport And Media: Future of Media Commission Report: Discussion (14 Sep 2022)

Catherine Martin: In terms of how the two interact with each other, I perceive Coimisiún na Meán as being the body that will help drive the implementation of the recommendations. For example, one of the posts being advertised for Coimisiún na Meán is the media development officer, so he or she will drive the media funding and new initiatives.

Joint Committee on Tourism, Culture, Arts, Sport And Media: Future of Media Commission Report: Discussion (14 Sep 2022)

Catherine Martin: Earlier the same question was asked and I said that that is exactly why we have the two working groups of the technical group and the implementation group. The implementation group has been set up in the full knowledge that the technical group is examining how to reform the model. It has taken on board the impact of reform and that decision that was made by Government. That work has been...