Catherine Martin (Dublin Rathdown, Green Party)
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The Future of Media Commission, established by Government in 2020, was tasked with developing recommendations on sustainable public funding and other supports to ensure media in Ireland remains viable, independent and capable of delivering public service aims.

The Commission’s report, which was published in July 2022, constitutes a strategic agenda for transforming Ireland’s media sector. Government accepted, in principle, 49 of the 50 recommendations within the report. While the recommendation of exchequer funding for public service media was rejected at the time, a Technical Working Group was established to investigate potential reform to the existing licence fee model.

An Implementation Group was set up and published an Action Plan, detailing how the Commission’s recommendations would be implemented.

A number of recommendations have already been implemented, including a 0% VAT rate for print and e-newspapers which was strongly welcomed by the media sector.

The European Commission has recently agreed that much anticipated Local Democracy and Courts Reporting Schemes meet criteria that exempt them from formal State Aid notification. The Schemes will be open to all media on a platform neutral and contestable basis by Coimisiún na Meán and will enhance the sector’s ability to deliver this very important public interest content this year.

A comprehensive review of the Irish language across our media landscape by Coimisiún na Meán s also underway and expected to be completed this year and An Coimisiún are also in the process of developing a Gender, Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Strategy to progress diversity standards across the media sector. It is also important to note that another key recommendation was the designation of both TG4 and RTÉ as NewERA bodies under the NTMA Act. This designation was has now been made, which provides me as Minister with access to the expert financial and commercial advisory services that NewERA provide.

On the much discussed subject of TV licence reform, as I have stated previously, a final decision will not be made until the reviews being carried out by the two expert advisory committees are complete and their reports have been submitted by me to Government and published. I understand that the reports are at an advanced stage and as both reports must adhere to the principle of natural justice and fair procedure, they will be reviewed by the Committee’s external legal advisors and relevant extracts shared with relevant parties prior to their submission to me.

While it would not be appropriate to reveal details of any discussions that have taken place prior to Government making a final decision on the matter, what I will say that all potential options must be considered. My aim is to deliver a funding model that is sustainable, that safeguards media independence, and that has public acceptance. Ultimately, a guarantee of certain and sustainable funding for public service media as a whole, will be a large part of what shapes the future of public service broadcasting in the State.