Brian Stanley (Laois, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister for his reply. I received my copy of the report yesterday morning. It was launched on Monday. It raises serious concerns about media concentration and notes that Ireland has one of the most concentrated media markets in any democracy. It points out that media plurality is an essential component of a well functioning democratic society. As the Minister knows, the media landscape is on the verge of losing more diversity owing to the possible purchase of Celtic Media Group by International News & Media which is controlled or owned by Mr. Denis O'Brien. Journalists are very concerned. For a number of years the NUJ has sought the establishment of a commission to investigate these aspects of the media and map the way forward. In his supplementary reply the Minister will probably refer to the constitutional questions. I wish to deal with that aspect.

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