Following the publication of Future of Media Commission Report last year, Government established an Implementation Group, chaired by my Department, which was tasked with preparation of an implementation plan and timeframe. The Group was also asked to consider the most appropriate structure and format for further engagement with sectoral stakeholders.
The Group have completed this initial phase of their work, and on 18th January last Government approved an Implementation Strategy and Action Plan, which was published that day.
This Action Plan sets out a blueprint for how Government can enable the continued development of public service media and content in Ireland, in light of the transformation which the sector has been undergoing. The Group will commence stakeholder engagement in the coming weeks and will continue to monitor ongoing implementation and make periodic progress reports.
Since the publication of the Commission’s Report, progress has been made on the implementation of a number of the recommendations, including:
- the transposition of the Copyright Directive by the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment;
- the Defamation (Amendment) Bill has been included in the Government’s Legislation Programme, and the Department of Justice is working toward publication of the General Scheme of the Bill in Quarter 1, 2023;
- the introduction of a zero rate of VAT for newspapers as part of the Budget 2023 taxation measures, which came into effect from 1st of January;
- a cost-benefit analysis of Section 481 was completed by the Department of Finance, and as a result, an extension of Section 481 supports was agreed to the end of 2028; and
- the provision of €6 million for the Media Fund for 2023 with the priority being the rollout of Local Democracy and Courts Reporting Schemes this year.
In addition to the Implementation group, Government also established a Technical Working Group to examine the necessary reform and enhancement of the TV Licence system. The Group, which is also chaired by my Department, began its work in September 2022 and has met 15 times. The Technical Working Group is due to report to me by the end of March, after which I intend to bring the report to Government.
A cornerstone of the Commission’s report and recommendations is the establishment of a new body with a wider regulatory and developmental function in respect of the entire media sector. The Online Safety and Media Regulation Act provides for the establishment of such a new media regulator, Coimisiún na Meán. An Coimisiún will provide the regulatory and developmental framework to support the implementation of the Commission’s report, and the Broadcasting Commissioner and Media Development Commissioner will play a significant role in delivering on the Government’s implementation plan.
On 17th January last, I announced the names of the Executive Chair and the three other Commissioners who took up their posts on an administrative basis on 13th February 2023. It is my intention that An Coimisiún will be formally established on 15th March next.
