Paddy Burke (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I ask the Deputy Leader to arrange a debate in the House on the Future of Media Commission report. I understand that this report has been with the Government since last October. It has not surfaced around Leinster House. It has not gone to the joint Oireachtas committee responsible for discussing the report. I ask the Deputy Leader to find out where the report is at this point in time, and to ensure we have a debate on the future of the local media in this House at the very earliest opportunity. It is very urgent that we would have such a debate here. We all know quite well the services that local media provide in our communities. They do court reports and report on sports matches, including hurling, football, soccer and rugby. They bring the news to every community. They advertise for local communities and the activities that take place in local communities. They also publish death notices. We are all aware of these things and, to be honest, we all take them for granted. It is only when a media outlet closes or disappears that we miss them. This particularly affects older people will who are not au faitwith getting all of their news on social media and through their mobile phone networks and so on. They all like to buy the local rag every week. They like to have it in their hand and to read it. I ask the Deputy Leader that at the earliest opportunity, but as a matter of urgency, she would find out where the report is at. It is disgraceful to think that it has been with the Government since last October given all of the pressure that has been put on over a long period of time by Members of this House and the Lower House to actually get a report. It is important that it would be brought to this House immediately and that we would have a debate on it.