Tim Lombard (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I want to speak about the current crisis in the local media sector. We all have local radio stations and publications based in our parishes. The pressure that they have been put under due to Covid-19 is immense. This is more of a rural issue than an urban one because the newspapers concerned are based in rural Ireland. They are part of the dynamic there and have been for a long time. There has been a lack of credible supports to help them survive. Advertising has collapsed and is down by 60% to 70% from where it was previously. This is for the obvious reason that the businesses do not have the money. Circulation is under pressure because people do not want to go out. It is a ticking time bomb and, because of that, a debate is required as a matter of urgency. If we do not move on this issue in the next six to eight weeks, a number of titles that are important to the entire country could fail. That would result in a deficit for our society. This is an issue that needs to be addressed. I ask the Leader to invite the Minister to the House so that we can have a debate on the matter. She has proposed that a commission on the future of the media be established. That commission will be sitting again in the next few weeks.Its report has to be laid before these Houses in the next few months. Without that sort of interaction, unfortunately, in a short time, we will lose many publications and that will be a deficit for society.