Social Democrats Co-Leader Catherine Murphy has reiterated both her party’s, and the NUJ’s, calls for the establishment of a Commission on the Future of Media in Ireland on what is World Press Freedom Day 2018. Deputy Murphy said the time had never been more apt for Ireland to address the many significant problems it faces in the areas of media ownership, editorial independence, media plurality, defamation laws, and employment standards within the industry among other things.
Speaking following the Social Democrats tabling of a Motion for the establishment of such a Commission Deputy Murphy said:
“Ireland is consistently found to be at medium or medium to high risk when it comes to media plurality and general issues of concern with the media landscape in Ireland. These are problems that have been flagged for a long time now but recent events have made the topic more pressing than ever. The controversy within Independent News and Media and the revelations in the ODCE’s affidavit certainly indicate there are significant concerns regarding media ownership and the associated questions regarding editorial independence.”
“The Establishment of a Commission on the Future of Media in Ireland is something that the NUJ have long-since requested and the view is that such a Commission would deal with myriad issues facing the media landscape in Ireland in order to ensure we reach a healthy balance of media plurality and overall conditions within the industry. The significance of media policy on a health democracy cannot be overstated and as such we in the Social Democrats believe that our Motion calling for the establishment of such a Commission should be supported by all parties and groups within Dáil Éireann and we would urge them to do so.”
3rd May 2015
ENDS