Victor Boyhan (Independent) | Oireachtas source

Yesterday, in the audiovisual room, NewsBrands Ireland and Local Ireland gave a presentation on their key asks in respect of the Defamation Act and issues around advertising. It was a packed room. There were perhaps more journalists than politicians in the room. That was a missed opportunity for the organisers in that, clearly, the target audience for their message was the politicians yet the room was full of journalists. It was good to meet them, however. I am very much a supporter of the local press and local media.

One example I will share with the House is that these two organisations had reviewed all the local papers - they monitor advertising in the national press and in the regionals, provincials and locals - and they could clearly demonstrate that the Constituency Commission's advertisements for the constituency boundary reviews for European and general elections did not feature in any of those local papers. They asked why that was the case. It is very important we engage with local people.

What I liked about the little leaflet the organisations provided was the section on their asks from us, the politicians, specifically a fair share of government advertising, a fair share of government supports, a fair deal for the big tech platforms and, finally, a fair regime for defamation. I might have a different view on defamation from theirs but I will make one ask of the Seanad through the Deputy Leader. I ask that we schedule a report on the pre-legislative scrutiny of the general scheme of the defamation (amendment) Bill. The committee has completed that. At a time when we may have some time on the Seanad schedule, we should be discussing relevant legislation.

I am supportive in general of the asks of these two organisations. I believe in supporting the national press and the local, provincial and regional press and, therefore, my ask is that we schedule, as early as possible, a report on the pre-legislative scrutiny of the general scheme of the defamation (amendment) Bill and have a broad discussion and debate on these issues in this House.