Pat Rabbitte (Dublin South West, Labour)

I agree with the Deputy that the media is not like other businesses and media enterprises are not like other enterprises because of the formative role media can have on the very character of our democracy and the coverage of public affairs. I agree with him that diversity of content and ownership are central. The Sreenan report sets out several principles concerning the public interest test which are central to the Deputy's question.

The heads of the new competition Bill were approved last July. I regret an amount of the Government's legislative programme has been dislocated at the behest of the troika to cause other legislation to receive attention. The new competition Bill is proceeding, however, and will have regard to the Sreenan principles. It will transfer responsibility for the media to my Department and, in the interim, my Department is working with the Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation to produce the best legislation we can. Hopefully, it will meet the challenge Deputy Luke 'Ming' Flanagan has put to us.

See this speech in context