Liz McManus (Wicklow, Labour)

I thank the Ceann Comhairle, and I appreciate that. On 30 October 2009 Independent Network News, INN, staff will lose their jobs. Initially INN tried to consider that, because fewer than 20 people were employed, it did not have to notify the Tánaiste, as Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment. Of course, that was untrue. Under the Redundancy Acts it must notify the Minister. First, has she received that notification? Second, regarding promised legislation, in February, in a reply to a parliamentary question by me, the Tánaiste stated that this year she would introduce legislation to reform competition law, particularly in the area of media mergers. A report on media mergers and the risks in respect of ownership was slipped out by the Tánaiste's Department. We need to have legislation now, arising from the concerns in that report. Third, will the Tánaiste work with INN to ensure the matters relating to the redundancies are referred to the Labour Relations Court?

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