Denis Naughten (Roscommon-Galway, Independent) | Oireachtas source

From the notification deadline on 24 November in respect of the proposed merger referenced by the Deputy, I have 30 working days to conduct a phase one assessment of the case. I will only make my assessment on media plurality guidelines. What I will consider in that context is set out on my Department's website. I have not received the report from my officials yet. When I do receive that report, I will read it and make the decision. I have three options. I can allow the merger to proceed, allow it to proceed with conditions or ask the Broadcasting Authority of Ireland to conduct a more in-depth examination of the proposed measure. I will comply to the letter of the law in respect of this, as I have done with the other media merger requests that have come before me.

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