This Bill is a media governance and transparency reform package for public service media, designed to restore trust in RTÉ, strengthen oversight, support independent production and ensure public money delivers value. It heightens accountability and governance by assigning the Comptroller and Auditor General as auditor of RTÉ. Also contained in the Bill is an enhancement of the statutory framework from which Coimisiún na Meán assesses the performance and funding of RTÉ and TG4. It includes strengthened provisions relating to the duties, appointments and dismissal of the directors general of RTÉ and TG4 and provides for greater transparency in the anonymised reporting on remuneration of employees and contractors. It extends media service duties and codes to all non-broadcast content published by RTÉ and TG4 and strengthens the independence and authority of the audience councils. Given what we dealt with in the past week in the media committee, that is extremely important. It is about strengthening transparency, accountability and governance while widening support for public service content across the media sector. It is about ensuring our public media provide accurate, factual news content on all platforms and provide high-quality media that is free and accessible to all of Ireland. It is important to say that RTÉ provides a fantastic service. It provides trustworthy content and news, and that is something that is not provided across all platforms. We need to address that. The Bill is about ensuring publicly funded organisations provide content related to the democratic, social and cultural needs of our society that is free at the point of consumption. It is about ensuring that people who receive taxpayers' money are accountable and adhere to good governance, and that public organisations are transparent in how they handle taxpayers' money. In the case of RTÉ, that is €725 million over three years, as well as the TV licence, which amounts to over €100 million, paid by people throughout the country. We have seen scandals arise and it is important that the correct legislation and structures are in place to prevent their recurrence. The Bill will give greater accountability by strengthening the audit and governance rules surrounding the board and director general. RTÉ and TG4 will face strong reporting requirements, including anonymised pay reporting and annual reports on commissioning decisions and spending, heightening transparency and oversight. The Bill goes even further than that. It outlines a new framework for RTÉ, TG4 and public service content in the wider media sector. There is also planned support for independent productions and provision for payment by RTÉ of at least 25% of its annual public funding into the RTÉ independent programmes account for the purpose of commissioning programmes from the independent sector. The Minister has withheld a charging levy at this point but has not said it will not happen. We will wait and see. We want to see Netflix, etc., purchasing independent content in this country. If not, the Minister reserves the right to go to Coimisiún na Meán to impose a levy. Ultimately, we do not want a levy put on consumers; they are paying enough as it is. Rules and standards currently applied to broadcast content will apply to podcasts and written content on both stations. There will also be a complaints pathway through Coimisiún na Meán. The Bill also clarifies the Netflix levy. That will only be introduced following a ministerial direction, with impact assessments required before and after implementation. That will happen unless the likes of Netflix purchase Irish content, keeping people in jobs in Ireland. The Bill provides Coimisiún na Meán with additional information-gathering powers for supervising Ireland's online safety framework. Online safety is a serious topic and we need to do everything in our power to make the online world as safe and beneficial to users, particularly vulnerable users and our children, as possible. This Bill will ensure we achieve that goal. The Bill has been brought before the Government. The Joint Committee on Arts, Media, Communications, Culture and Sport discussed it and made 85 recommendations. The Minister has replied and 65 recommendations can be and already have been addressed, including in existing legislation and by incorporation into this Bill. The Bill accepted in principle recommendations, published by the Government, of the Future of Media Commission. The Government published the independent review of the governance and culture of RTÉ, prepared by an expert advisory committee. It has received lots of scrutiny, recommendations, attention and discussion. It is ready to be passed and to strengthen the transparency, accountability and governance of RTÉ, TG4 and public media organisations and platforms more generally. Legislative measures supporting this Bill include the Media Regulation Bill 2026 and the European Media Freedom Act, which aims to strengthen the internal market for media services and protect media pluralism and independence throughout the EU. In conclusion, this is about ensuring that our media are transparent and accountable and taxpayers receive high-quality journalism, Irish-made television and increased content through our native Irish language. I thank Members for their attention and commend the Bill to the House.

Sentiment score: 0.29