Thematic Dialogue #5

How should Public Service Media and Public Service Content Providers inform, educate and entertain the Irish public with regard to Irish culture, identity, sport, language and ensure that creative Irish talent gets the opportunity to have their work reach audiences in Ireland and, where possible, further afield?

Thursday March 25th 2021,
16:30 - 17:50 GMT


Playback of Proceedings

Panel 1

  • Noel Curran, European Broadcasting Union
  • Paul Farrell, Virgin Media TV
  • Amanda Ade, the 'Black and Irish Podcast'

Panel 2
  • John Purcell, Independent Broadcasters of Ireland
  • Alan Esslemont, TG4
  • Conn McCarrick , National Youth Council of Ireland

Panel 3
  • Susan Kirby, Screen Producers Ireland
  • Kevin Doyle, Newsbrands
  • Daráine Mulvihill, journalist and broadcaster

Programme

Programme

16:30    Introductions. Prof. Brian MacCraith, Chair, Future of Media Commission

16:34 - 17:12    Panel 1 - are the current models for the delivery of cultural and creative content appropriate for the next decade? What can we do to ensure creative Irish talent get the opportunity to showcase their work to Irish and International audiences?
Contributions by panellists, followed by questions and answers.

17:12 - 17:50    Panel 2 - Given the limited resources to spend on this sector – how should funding be prioritised and allocated given the diverse nature of themes to be covered and the competing demands?
Contributions by panellists, followed by questions and answers.

17:50    Conclusion

Prof. Brian MacCraith, Chair Photograph of Brian MacCraith

Brian MacCraith held the position of President of Dublin City University (DCU) from July 2010 to July 2020, during which time DCU grew significantly in terms of scale, footprint, and reputation. During that period, DCU was Ireland’s fastest growing university) and added 3 new campuses (DCU St. Patrick’s Campus, DCU All Hallows Campus, and DCU Alpha, the University’s Innovation Campus) to its original base in Glasnevin.

During his Presidency, DCU developed a significant international profile, with major academic and research partnerships across the globe and a strong reputation for innovation. The university is ranked consistently as one of the world’s top young universities and is in the top 20 globally for its graduate employment rate. Brian MacCraith is a member of the Royal Irish Academy (RIA), an Honorary Fellow of the Institute of Physics, an Honorary Fellow of the Institute of Engineers Ireland, and a Fellow of the Irish Academy of Engineers.

Panel 1
16:34 - 17:12
Are the current models for the delivery of cultural and creative content appropriate for the next decade? What can we do to ensure creative Irish talent get the opportunity to showcase their work to Irish and International audiences?

Panel Chair: Siobhán Holliman

Panellists:

  • Angela Dorgan, National Campaign for the Arts
  • Sinead Conroy, Federation of Irish Sports
  • Victor Finn, Chief Executive Officer, IMRO

Siobhán Holliman, Panel Chair

Photograph of Siobhán Holliman

Siobhán Holliman is an experienced journalist who has been working in regional broadcasting and newspapers for over 20 years. A graduate of University of Ulster Coleraine and NUI Galway, she is Deputy Editor of The Tuam Herald, one of the oldest independently owned newspapers in the country. A former lecturer on the Communications course at NUI Galway, Siobhán is a member of the Editorial Advisory Board at NUI Galway. Siobhán was appointed to the Press Council in October 2019. She is currently joint Cathaoirleach of the Irish Executive Council of the NUJ.


Angela Dorgan, National Campaign for the Arts

Photograph of Angela Dorgan
Angela Dorgan is the CEO of www.firstmusiccontact.com (FMC), the Arts Council-funded national resource organization for the popular music sector in Ireland. FMC runs www.musicfromireland.org, www.breakingtunes.com and www.irelandmusicweek.com. Angela was recently elected Vice President of EMEE, the European Music Exporters Exchange, where she was part of a group that devised a global music export strategy for European Music for the European Commission.
Angela is chair of the National Campaign for the Arts, who lobby government for increased support, funding and recognition of artists, arts workers and arts organisations in Ireland. As chair of NCFA, Angela was a member of the Arts Council Expert Advisory Group on Covid 19 and a member of the Arts and Culture Recovery Taskforce.

Sinead Conroy, Federation of Irish Sports

Photograph of Sinead Conroy

Sinead Conroy started her journey with the Federation of Irish Sport in October 2018, taking the role of Business Services Manager. As part of her duties, Sinead manages the relations, services and communications with the Federation’s member organisations and external stakeholders.
Sinead has a background in Marketing, Communications and Event Management and holds an honours degree in Commerce from University College Dublin and a Masters of International Business from National College of Ireland. She has extensive experience in client relationships, project management, marketing communications and sponsorship development, with a particular focus on sport. To date, Sinead has worked on national sponsorships including Vodafone and Irish Rugby, Lucozade Sport’s sponsorship of the FAI and IRFU and SSE Airtricity’s partnership with both the SSE Airtricity League and The Dublin Marathon as well as managing the Federation’s role in the 20x20 campaign.


Victor Finn, Chief Executive Officer, IMRO

Photograph of Victor Finn

Victor Finn is the Chief Executive Officer of the Irish Music Rights Organisation, representing over 13,000 songwriters, composers and music publishers. IMRO ensures that creators are remunerated for the commercial use of their music. A Fellow of the Institute of Global Chartered Management Accountants, with a degree in Business Studies, prior to joining IMRO in 2008, Victor held the position of Managing Director of MCPS (Ireland), the mechanical rights society. Here he spearheaded the transition of music licensing to the online environment.
He is a founding director of the Collection Society’s Forum the lobbying and advocacy group, which brings together authors, composers, music publishers, artists and record labels to promote intellectual property rights in Ireland highlighting the value delivered by Ireland’s creative industries to the Irish economy. He also sits on the Council of the IBEC Audio Visual Federation.


Panel 2
17:12 - 17:50
Given the limited resources to spend on this sector – how should funding be prioritised and allocated given the diverse nature of themes to be covered and the competing demands?

Panel Chair: Dr Finola Doyle-O’Neill, Broadcast Historian at the School of History, University College Cork

Panellists:

  • Julian de Spáinn, Conradh na Gaeilge
  • Miriam Malone, Chief Executive Officer, Paralympics Ireland
  • Christine Monk, Cultural Publicist

Dr Finola Doyle-O’Neill, Panel Chair

Photograph of Finola Doyle-O'Neill

Dr Finola Doyle O’Neill is a Broadcast Historian at the School of History, University College Cork. She lectures in the field of Ireland's broadcast and film history- as well as in the area of Crime and the Media- as part of the BA in Criminology. She is author of The Gaybo Revolution: How Gay Byrne Challenged Irish Society, which is currently a recommended text for the Leaving Certificate History curriculum and its coverage of the Impact of RTÉ 1962-1972.
She is a regular commentator on radio and on television, on issues relating to Ireland's broadcasting history. Dr Doyle O'Neill has been a Board member of the Cork Film Festival, as well as being an active committee member of IFUT. She is also a member of The Women's History Association, the National Union of Journalists, and patron of the UCC Journalism Society. She has written an award -winning historical play on the women of 1916, Walking with Ireland into the Sun, and a radio series, The Road to the Vote: The fight for female suffrage in Ireland, which is currently available on the Oireachtas website.


Julian de Spáinn, Conradh na Gaeilge

Photograph of Julian de Spáinn
As General Secretary of Conradh na Gaeilge for more than a decade, Julian de Spáinn has overseen its role as an advocate organisation to promote and encourage the use and development of the Irish language not only in Ireland but throughout the world. Julian has a particular interest in the normalisation of Irish in the media in Ireland and has taken part in many consultations with regard to this in recent years. Julian is also a former President of the Union of Students in Ireland and recognises the importance of the media, especially new media platforms, amongst young people.
Mar Ard-Rúnaí ar Chonradh na Gaeilge le breis agus deich mbliana anuas, tá maoirseacht déanta ag Julian de Spáinn ar ról na heagraíochta mar eagraíocht abhcóideachta le húsáid agus forbairt na Gaeilge a chur chun cinn agus a spreagadh, ní hamháin in Éirinn ach ar fud an domhain. Tá spéis ar leith ag Julian i normalú na Gaeilge sna meáin in Éirinn agus bhí ról gníomhach aige i go leor comhairliúchán maidir leis an ábhar seo le blianta beaga anuas. Chomh maith leis sin is iar-Uachtarán ar Aontas na Mac Léinn in Éirinn é Julian agus aithníonn sé tábhacht na meáin, go háirithe ardáin nua meán, i measc daoine óga.

Miriam Malone, Chief Executive Officer, Paralympics Ireland

Photograph of Miriam Malone
Miriam Malone has been the Chief Executive of Paralympics Ireland since her appointment to the role in 2017. The Kildare native has enjoyed a great career in sports administration having worked in Special Olympics, the Kilkenny Sports Partnership and the Football Association of Ireland.
Miriam oversaw the hosting of the Dublin 2018 World Para Swimming Allianz European Championships at the Sport Ireland National Aquatic Centre, the first time our country has hosted a major international Para Sporting event. She has also led Team Ireland through the postponement of the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games and is currently planning for the rescheduled Games this August.

Christine Monk, Cultural Publicist

Photograph of Áine Ní Chaoindealbháin
Christine Monk is a cultural publicist and communications specialist. She advises cultural organisations on building awareness, and encourages a comprehensive approach delivering potential benefits for stakeholders, sponsors and audience development.
Clients in recent years include the Arts Council of Ireland, Centre Culturel Irlandais (Paris), National Concert Hall, Design & Crafts Council of Ireland, Irish Theatre Institute, Irish National Opera, Youth Theatre Ireland, #Waking the Feminists and Oscar-nominated animation studio Cartoon Saloon. She has been in charge of media communications for the Gate Theatre since 2017. Christine is a current Board Member of Poetry Ireland and Kilkenny Arts Festival.