Longford Senator calls for more Government support for local media

Senator Micheál Carrigy called for more Government support for local media during a recent debate in the Seanad.

Senator Carrigy is a member of the joint Oireachtas Committee on media.

Minister of State for Health Deputy Mary Butler was deputising for Minister for Culture, Catherine Martin, for the Oireachtas debate.

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Senator Carrigy called for media outlets to be included in future funding, apart from those already earmarked for public funding.

“This includes our local radio stations, local newspapers, and indeed other organisations that are not receiving funds,” he stated.

“The future of media report which came out two years ago recommended the same and recommended support schemes to be put in place for local media in particular. Many of these schemes are not actually working and delivering on the ground,” he stated.

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“There is no core funding for news and current affairs, particularly in the independent sector. These are the areas which are under extreme pressure, with regards to resources and indeed financing. They have a difficulty in attracting and retaining local journalists and keeping those newsrooms going. I have had significant engagement myself as media representative for Fine Gael,” he added.

Senator Carrigy went on to say that there should be dedicated funds available for the media, which would be monitored by Coimisiún na Meán.

“25% of that amount would be available for all media organisations, local and national, to provide for the public service broadcasting that they do and are not being funded at present,” Senator Carrigy commented.

“High level discussions are going on at cabinet level in respect of the future funding model,” Deputy Butler replied.

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“One recommendation made by the Future of Media Commission was the establishment of a new media fund to provide support for the provision of public service content by the wider media and journalism sector. The commission recommended that €30 million be provided,” she added.

Deputy Butler added that more funding had already been secured to boost local reporting by media.

“Minister Catherine Martin secured €6 million in the budget for new local democracy and court reporting schemes. The media fund is being established on an administrative basis, with the local democracy and court reporting schemes being prioritised for implementation by the media regulator,” Deputy Butler commented.

“The local democracy reporting and court reporting schemes will operate as contestable award schemes on a platform neutral basis. The media regulator will award successful applicants with funding to support the production of public service content over a fixed period through the deployment of additional journalistic resources,” the Minister for State added.

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MAIN PHOTO: Some members of the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Tourism, Culture, Arts, Sport & Media following the publication of its Report on the Future Business Model Plans and Long-Term Vision for the Media Sector on Wednesday, July 3. Pictured l to r; Senator Fintan Warfield (Sinn Féin), Deputy Imelda Munster (Sinn Féin), Deputy Michael Ring (Fine Gael), Senator Malcolm Byrne (Fianna Fáil), Deputy Niamh Smyth (Fianna Fáil, Cathaoirleach), Deputy Ciaran Cannon (Fine Gael), Senator Micheál Carrigy (Fine Gael) and Deputy Mattie McGrath (Independent)