JOINT COMMITTEE ON ARTS, SPORT, TOURISM, COMMUNITY, RURAL AND GAELTACHT AFFAIRS díospóireacht -
Wednesday, 27 Feb 2008

Lá Nua: Motion.

Chairman

A draft motion on the newspaper, Lá Nua, has been circulated to members following discussion of the issue when Senator Doherty raised it under any other business at our previous meeting. As the Senator is not present, I will move the motion. I move:

That the Joint Committee on Arts, Sport, tourism, Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs recognises the central role that Lá Nua, the national daily newspaper of the Irish language community, plays in the Irish language life and recommends to all Departments that they use Lá Nua for advertising as appropriate.

Deputy Olivia Mitchell

I move amendment No. 1:

In the final line, to delete "as" and substitute "if".

I am not sure of the meaning of the word "as" in this context. I have some reservations about directing advertising spending to any newspaper and I understand my colleague, Senator Buttimer, has some information which may change the views of members on what the joint committee should do in this regard. I presume the role of the joint committee is to make a recommendation rather than a directive. If that is the case, I am reasonably satisfied with the text of the motion.

Deputy John Curran

I second the amendment.

Senator Jerry Buttimer

It is important to acknowledge that the managing director of the Belfast Media Group, Máirtin Ó Muilleoir, announced last week that the newspaper had secured new investment from shareholders and implemented measures to cut costs and increase revenue. According to the report in question, these measures have secured the future of the group until 2008. The joint committee should acknowledge this development. I will circulate to the clerk a copy of the relevant article, which appeared in the Andersonstown News on 26 February.

Chairman

We will copy the article to members.

Deputy Mary Upton

I have some queries about the motion. Who will decide what will be "appropriate" and how will this decision be reconciled with the recommendation of the joint committee? What is the precise status of our recommendation? What role will we have in recommending to Departments whether they should advertise in a specific journal, newspaper or other publication? Why does the motion refer to one newspaper only?

Chairman

I presume it will be a matter for each Department to decide whether it wishes to advertise in the newspaper in question. The issue was raised at the conclusion of the previous meeting on the basis that the publication, the only daily Irish language newspaper, is in crisis. Our role is merely to highlight that it is the only Irish language daily newspaper and to recommend that Departments assist in any way possible. It is nothing more than a recommendation.

Amendment put and agreed to.

Motion, as amended, agreed to.

Chairman

The clerk to the committee will report and note the motion to the Houses of the Oireachtas. Is that agreed? Agreed.