Denis Naughten (Roscommon-Galway, Independent)
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83. To ask the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht further to the Government review of the strategic communications unit by the Secretary General (details supplied) in 2018, the steps she is taking to facilitate a national policy debate on the issue of the financial health of the Irish media; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [1425/21]

Catherine Martin (Dublin Rathdown, Green Party)
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The Programme for Government, Our Shared Future, in recognition of the importance of a sustainable Irish media sector, provided for the establishment of the Future of Media Commission, which is tasked with considering the future of print, broadcast, and online media in a platform agnostic fashion.

On 29 September 2020 the Government agreed the terms of reference and membership of the Future of Media Commission. The Commission is chaired by Professor Brian MacCraith, former President of Dublin City University, and includes experts in public service media, independent journalism, social media, new technology platforms, media economics, culture, language, creative content, governance and international best practice.

The goals of the Independent Commission are to:

- Identify what the Irish experience has been in delivering the above aims through public service broadcasters, other broadcasters, print and online media at a local, regional and national level and the challenges created for these media by new global platforms and changing audience preferences in relation to how content is delivered;

- Consider the extent to which the current models of delivery are the appropriate ones the next 10 years;

- Review best practice in other comparable jurisdictions, particularly across the European Economic Area in terms of providing future-proofed models for meeting the above four public services in light of changing audience expectations, in particular the preferences and behaviours of younger audiences

The Commission is tasked with:

- proposing how those public service aims should be delivered in Ireland over the next ten years;

- how this should contribute to supporting Ireland’s cultural and creative sectors;

- how this work can be funded in a way that is sustainable, gives greater security of funding, ensures independent editorial oversight and delivers value for money to the public;

- making recommendations on RTE’s role, financing and structure within this framework;

- How this is overseen and regulated, having regard to our EU obligations including the requirements of the revised Audio-visual Media Services Directive. 

The Commission held its inaugural meeting on 29 October. This was followed by a period of public consultation, which ran from December 12th 2020 - January 8th 2021, resulting in over 800 written submissions from stakeholder groups and the general public. In addition, six Thematic Dialogues were held between January 28^thand April 15^th which involved panels of speakers on a range of matters who responded to questions from online participants and Commission members. These dialogues are available on the Commission's website.

The Commission is expected to report to An Taoiseach and myself at the end of July  and I  look forward to reviewing their recommendations.