Victor Boyhan (Independent) | Oireachtas source

I welcome the Minister of State to the House to take these Commencement matters. I know this is not a matter directly related to his Ministry but it relates to the Minister, Deputy Catherine Martin, who is our Minister for arts, culture and media. The matter is to ask the Minister for arts, culture and media to make a statement on her new funding proposals for newspapers, local radio stations and other radio stations, for that matter, to facilitate the coverage of local authorities and the Courts Service. Access to information and communication about both is critically important, particularly in the regions and in local communities. New media funding is expected to support the reporting of the courts and the local authorities. The Minister has indicated that, while it may be on an interim basis, newspapers and radio stations are set to receive this new funding to facilitate coverage of the courts, local authorities and their activities. That is an initiative which I welcome and support. I know the Minister is fully committed to it.

I recognise and support the significant contribution of local media outlets, whether local radio or other local, provincial and regional media, which are also important. We benefit in these Houses, with our magnificent Library beneath this Chamber, where all the provincial, local and regional papers come in every week. We currently have an opportunity to read and study them. Long may that continue. This medium of communication, whether local radio or local newspapers, is important because it communicates facts and engages people in political, social and economic life, which is important at a time of misinformation and disinformation. We rely heavily on the strong level of integrity of most of the brands of our media in this country. We are fortunate and need to recognise that as being the case. Local media are important. They are a conduit for connecting our citizens and community. It is a matter of knowledge and power, as the Minister of State and I know.

When the Minister, Deputy Martin, was in New York, she confirmed that funding for this initiative could come next year on an interim basis before a new long-term strategy for RTÉ and other entities in public service media comes into effect. I understand the Government decided last year, pending an analysis of the alternatives, not to accept the key recommendation of the Future of Media Commission that public service media should be funded from central Exchequer funds rather than the current system of TV licensing. I also note that the Minister said that all options should still be kept on the table because she wants to explore all options and circumstances. The Future of Media Commission made six recommendations about schemes, such as court reporting and the local democracy and digital transformation that could be supported by this new media fund.

I commend the Minister, the Minister of State and the Government on the engagement with the industry about local democracy and court reporting as a starting point. That should proceed as quickly as possible. I also commend the Minister, Deputy Martin, on securing the €6 million in funding in the budget to get the scheme under way. Unfortunately, a new, long-term, sustainable funding model ultimately needs to be put in place to support media coverage and its independence.

Representatives of NewsBrands Ireland came to the House and met Members in the audiovisual room recently. They made a strong case for support of the media, particularly local media, but also regional and provincial media. I informed NewsBrands that this Commencement matter was being taken and I understand the company is listening in today. We need to continue to build strong relationships with the media. They are not all about making money. The media have an important role in communicating facts, as I said, at a time when there is much misinformation and disinformation. If we do not support our local media outlets, they will suffer and we will lose them. That would be terrible in a democracy like ours.