Malcolm Byrne (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I always worry when I read the phrase, "as soon as practicable", in a response, because it is frequently used when reports have been kicked down the road for a long period. The difficulty is that the issue is not new. We have known this for a long time and yet, we have seen how RTÉ and other broadcasters and media have performed a very good public sector function, not just during the Covid pandemic, but at other times as well. We need certainty. The Oireachtas Joint Committee on Tourism Culture, Arts, Sport and Media has held a number of hearings on this issue. Major challenges face print media and broadcast media in particular. It is important we stress the urgency of this issue and that there be a guarantee in the report that multi-annual funding options will be provided for public sector media. I ask, when the report is finally brought to Cabinet, there be a broad debate between both Houses and an assurance this will not just be another report kicked down the road.