Pat Rabbitte (Dublin South West, Labour)

As the Deputy knows, broadcasting is currently the responsibility of this Department. After the Bill to which he refers is enacted, this Department will be also responsible for print media. In terms of how early that is likely to happen, it has to await the enactment of the major revision of competition law that is in the new competition and consumer Bill. It is a major Bill. The Deputy is correct. It has been dislocated, as have some other Bills, primarily because of the pressures on us from the troika to give priority to other pieces of legislation. I agree with the Deputy that this is an important Bill. Once the Bill is enacted, it is the responsibility of this Department and has no interaction with the other Department.

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