The Taoiseach, Tánaiste Leo Varadkar and Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media, Catherine Martin have welcomed the publication of the report of the Future of Media Commission and announced a major Government initiative to support Ireland’s media sector.
The Future of Media Commission 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 was also asked to make specific recommendations in relation to RTÉ’s financing.
The Commission’s report contains a total of 50 recommendations, which include a strategic agenda for transforming Ireland’s media sector. Today’s announcement by Government adopts in principle 49 of the 50 recommendations, and proposes an alternative approach to the Commission’s recommendation on a new funding model.
One of the key recommendations is reforming and enhancing the TV licence, a system that currently is out of step with changing trends in media consumption and which does not realise the full funding needs of the sector. The reform of the TV licence will aim to align with changing viewing habits and provide a more sustainable level of funding for the sector.
A new Media Fund is set to be established to support the wider media and journalism sector at local, regional and national levels, and will be open to broadcast, print and online media. The Fund will allow for the provision of supports on a platform-neutral basis, and enable the targeting of supports for particular content, such as culture or news, or areas of particular need, for example at community or local level.
Speaking following the Government meeting earlier today, Taoiseach Micheál Martin said:
“I’d like to thank Professor Brian MacCraith and each of the Future of Media Commission members for their dedication and commitment in producing this report. The Commission has established that high-quality, independent journalism and a pluralistic media is vital to a healthy democracy and social cohesion. Today’s Government decision to overhaul the TV licence and to target additional investment into media in Ireland marks a new departure, both for public service broadcasters and for commercial and community print, online and broadcast media. The Government is determined to do everything we can to ensure that Ireland’s media continues to deliver high quality public service content at local, regional and national levels. The Future of Media Commission has charted a clear way forward, and the Government has now agreed in principle to adopt and implement the vast majority of the Commission’s recommendations”
