Dáil debates

Tuesday, 6 December 2016

Priority Questions

Media Mergers

4:50 pm

Photo of Catherine MurphyCatherine Murphy (Kildare North, Social Democrats) | Oireachtas source

I would describe something as working well when it is really tested and this is one of the tests. It concerns the proposed acquisition of Celtic Media Group where there is already a difficulty relating to the existing degree of media plurality. Media must be judged across a range of platforms. It is an evolving sector but this does not seem to have been factored into the process. This case involves Independent News & Media, Communicorp and the digital platforms that go with that. The lack of media plurality is an unhealthy situation in a democracy. The very fact that there is no prospect of retrospective action means that at the very least, we should not make a bad situation worse. Will this be considered in the context of the decision the Minister must make and will he look at it as more than property rights? Will media plurality from the citizen's perspective be the first item he will consider?

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