Catherine Murphy (Kildare North, Social Democrats)
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245. To ask the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if she will publish the report of the Future of the Media Commission; and if she will engage with the appropriate sectoral committee regarding its contents (details supplied). [10638/22]

Catherine Martin (Dublin Rathdown, Green Party)
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A vibrant, diverse and independent media sector is vital for not only our democracy but our cultural development. However, it is a sector that is undergoing fundamental change and faces significant challenges.

Acknowledging both the importance of the sector and the rapidly changing landscape in which it operates, the Programme for Government committed to the establishment of the Future of Media Commission.

Chaired by Professor Brian MacCraith, the Commission was tasked with considering the future of print, broadcast, and online media in a platform agnostic fashion; and the potential measures required to ensure that our public service media continues to play its essential role within our society for the foreseeable future. After extensive engagement, the Commission completed its work and submitted its report to the Taoiseach and myself in the Autumn.

The Report’s recommendations are far-reaching and will inform media and broadcasting policy in the coming years. As such, they have required careful consideration, particularly in light of a range of other complex and inter-related issues that will require decisions by Government in the wider media and digital space. These include the recently published national digital strategy Harnessing Digital – The Digital Ireland Framework and Ireland’s approach to the implementation of the forthcoming Digital Services Act. It is intended that the report will be brought to Government for consideration shortly, after which it will be published.

The Committee has been informed of the current position and will continue to be updated on developments.