James O'Connor (Cork East, Fianna Fail)
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40. To ask the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht when she intends to publish the Future of Media Commission report; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [32422/22]

Catherine Martin (Dublin Rathdown, Green Party)
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The media sector in Ireland, which is a vital element of our democracy and society as a whole, is undergoing fundamental change, for the most part driven by advances in technology and the manner in which we ourselves consume media content.

This Government is committed to putting in place a framework which will enable a sustainable future for a vibrant, diverse and independent media sector, encompassing print, audiovisual, radio and online.

A key element in this was the establishment of the Future of Media Commission, which was chaired by Professor Brian MacCraith.  The Commission's task was a complex one, with a remit to address the many issues of concern for the entire media industry.  As a result, the Commission’s report and the wide ranging recommendations it contains, has required careful and detailed thought. However, this cannot be carried out in isolation, but must have regard to a range of other complex and inter-related issues that Government is addressing in the wider media and digital space, including Ireland’s approach to the implementation of the Digital Services Act, which has been recently agreed at political level in Europe.

Another key element of this overall approach is the Online Safety and Media Regulation Bill, which will shortly commence Report stage in the Seanad, and in particular the establishment of a new media regulator, Coimisiún na Meán.

An Coimisiún will provide the regulatory and developmental framework to implement the report of the Future of Media Commission.  It will comprise an Executive Chairperson and, initially, three additional Commissioners, including an Online Safety Commissioner, a Media Development Commissioner and an Online Safety Commissioner. The latter two Commissioners will have a role in ensuring the effective delivery of the report.

The detailed consideration of the Future of Media Commission’s report by the Taoiseach, myself and other key Ministers is nearing conclusion. It is intended that the report will be brought to Government shortly, and subsequently published.