Joint Committee on Media, Tourism, Arts, Culture, Sport and the Gaeltacht to discuss future of public service broadcasting and impact of Covid-19 on Media Sector

The Joint Committee on Media, Tourism, Arts, Culture, Sport and the Gaeltacht will tomorrow, Wednesday, 11 November, discuss the future of public service broadcasting and the impact of Covid-19 on the media sector.

The meeting at 2.00pm in Committee Room 3 of Leinster House will hear from:

• Representatives of RTE, led by Dee Forbes, Director General;
• Representatives of the National Union of Journalists, led by Seamus Dooley, Irish Secretary;
• Representatives of the Independent Broadcasters of Ireland, led by John Purcell, Chairman.

Committee Chair Deputy Niamh Smyth said: “Public service broadcasting and the media in general have been under pressure for several years from a combination of funding difficulties due to falling sales and advertising revenue and the increased competition from digital and social media. The Covid-19 pandemic has only increased that pressure on broadcasters and print media. The Committee looks forward to discussing these matters with the media representatives.”

The Joint Committee on Media, Tourism, Arts, Culture, Sport and the Gaeltacht has 14 Members, nine from the Dáil and five from the Seanad.

The meeting in Committee Room 3 can be viewed live on Oireachtas TV.

Committee proceedings can also be viewed on the Houses of the Oireachtas Smartphone App, available for Apple and Android devices.