Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 3 November 2020
522. Deputy Imelda Munster asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media the supports available to free local newspapers under level 5 restrictions in order to ensure that they can survive the lockdown period in view that advertising is the sole income available to newspapers of this type and advertising revenue will collapse under Level 5 restrictions; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [32523/20]
View answerThe Government has put in place a range of supports for all businesses which are available to the print and online media sectors during health restrictions imposed by Covid-19. The production and publication of newspapers, journals and periodicals and the distribution of those publications has been listed as an essential service.
The new Programme for Government, Our Shared Future, expanded the remit of the Public Service Broadcasting Commission to become the Future of Media Commission, tasked with considering the future of print, broadcast, and online media in a platform agnostic fashion. On 29 September 2020 the Government agreed the terms of reference and membership of the Future of Media Commission.
I look forward to receiving the Commission's Report on completion of its work which will inform media policy, including the print media.
