by Mary Immaculate College (MIC), Limerick
Ten members of the Irish National Citizens’ Parliament travelled to Leinster House (Irish Parliament) to present their resolutions to the Joint Oireachtas (Parliamentary Committee) on Arts, Media, Communications, Culture and Sport on the 5th of November 2025. The Joint Committee is made up of Members of Parliament and Senators from across all parties.
The presentation of the resolutions was particularly timely, given that the committee had just published its draft Broadcast Amendment Bill for consultation. The delegation, which comprised two Irish Citizens’ Parliament spokespersons, Moya Ní Cheallaigh and Niall Mahon, and Rosemary Day and Jude McInerney from Mary Immaculate College (MIC) pointed out where their resolutions aligned with those of the committee as well as issues that the committee might wish to consider that had not been included. The audition was screened live on Irish television.
Innovative proposals include a basic wage for journalists, funded apprenticeships, and town hall meetings.
Niall Mahon highlighted six resolutions related to the need for government funding and investment. Citizens understood that all media — commercial, public service and community media — were under financial pressure, he said. The Citizens’ Parliament spokesperson noted that many newsrooms are finding it hard to recruit journalists from working-class backgrounds or from diverse communities, such as new immigrants or people with disabilities, and that newsrooms outside of Dublin, in particular, are having difficulties paying and training journalists.
To address these challenges, one resolution of the Citizens‘ Parliament proposes establishing a universal basic wage for journalists. This would provide financial security and encourage talented journalists to stay in the industry, said Niall Mahon.
Another proposal is to create government-funded journalistic apprenticeships based in local newspapers and radio stations. This would help to address the rural/urban divide and ensure that young people from all backgrounds have the opportunity to work in media, starting with their local outlets. The committee was particularly taken with this proposal.
The second spokesperson, Moya Ní Cheallaigh, presented a resolution asking that the regulator, the Commission for the Media, be given the power to hold the media to account for a lack of impartiality or accuracy.
Moya Ní Cheallaigh presented another resolution, asking for the organisation of ‚Town Hall Meetings‘ with politicians, facilitated by the media. This would reintroduce dialogue and debate in the community, at both the local and national levels, and enable more direct participation in the democratic process, she advocated.
The resolutions will be addressed by the Joint Parliamentary Committee, the Commission for the Media and the National Union of Journalists
The resolutions were very well received and discussed in detail during a question-and-answer session with the Committee.
Chairman Alan Kelly emphasised the importance of media literacy for all age groups in order to distinguish real news from fake news. He suggested that the Committee could revisit the resolutions when discussing online safety over the coming weeks.
This demonstrates that the Citizens‘ Parliament on Media and Democracy has achieved significant results, and that its resolutions will have an impact.
The Irish regulator, the Commission for the Media, will also consider how resolutions that relate to its remit can be implemented. The National Union of Journalists and Media Literacy Ireland will also review the resolutions relevant to their members and work.
Transcription of the debate of the Joint Committee on Arts, Media, Communications, Culture and Sport
Video of the debate of the Joint Committee on Arts, Media, Communications, Culture and Sport (starting at 1:40:00)
The Resolutions Report of the Irish Citizens‘ Parliament on Media and Democracy.