Martin Conway (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

During the pandemic, we have seen the important role that local media has played in keeping communities connected and giving them valuable, useful and correct information, and none more so than local newspapers throughout the country. It is appropriate that the Government would provide financial assistance to help local newspapers during this difficult time for them. However, that requires a responsibility of local newspaper to treat their journalists and other staff appropriately. It has come to my attention that Iconic Newspapers, which owns more than 25 local newspapers, has shredded its editorial workforce and reduced the hours and working conditions of many editorial staff, photographers, journalists and so on. If we are giving support to local newspapers, they have a responsibility to retain their staff. That is the core principle of the support that is being given to them. I call on Iconic Newspapers, which owns the Limerick Leader, the Tipperary Starand so on in my area, to reverse its cuts immediately and engage properly and meaningfully with the National Union of Journalists, NUJ, which is the body by which journalists must be accredited to attend Government press conferences and so on. It is appropriate that Iconic Newspapers do so.

The HSE urgently needs to provide clarity regarding the mopping up process in nursing homes. Sadly, when vaccination was under way in many nursing homes, some patients and residents had Covid and were not in a position to access a vaccine. There is a 28-day period in which a patient must be Covid-free before receiving a vaccine injection, but there is no clarity in this situation. We are dealing with elderly people. They, their families and their nursing homes are worried. I call on the Leader to seek clarity on the mopping up process and protocols.