Shane Cassells (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I accept what the Minister said on the independence of the BAI and the new commission but it is right that we express our opinions as politicians. Sometimes we say that those in politics cannot express their opinions and it should be independent. These Houses are where we formulate the framework by which people operate. I know the Minister recognises that this is all the more important because the media world is changing and there will be casualties. In the UK over the past ten or 20 years, particularly regarding local media and local newspapers, the death of the local press is frightening.

I met the UK media secretary and discussed this at a meeting in Berlin where we tried to come up with ideas. They have introduced ideas for the per cent scheme where they help through subventions to newsrooms to employ young journalists, in order to make sure young journalists continue to come forward. We are seeing and will continue to see casualties, certainty in the local newspaper industry in this country. I was in a newsroom when it went under. That is equally the case for radio stations.

The point made by John Purcell was that Government and the Minister kept those stations alive but that we should not fool ourselves into thinking they can stay alive. There will be casualties. Pressure comes to bear from these stations on the broadcasting authority to let them follow the business model that will satisfy their commercial interests and keep their product alive. Here we get into the scenario of dumbing down the media. We saw the necessity for good news and good current affairs during the pandemic. RTÉ ran magnificent ads concerning where people ascertain their news. We are lucky to have a State broadcaster that did that. It is important to maintain that level of integrity. I monitor news organisations in different countries. This country has one of the best but it is under pressure and when it comes under pressure, commercial interests can start to weigh because they are all owned, with the exception of RTÉ, by private interests. I accept what the Minister has said but it is right we had the debate and that we frame it in such a way. That is why I think the timeframes Senator Higgins is calling for are worthy of consideration.