Bríd Smith (Dublin South Central, People Before Profit Alliance) | Oireachtas source

I was going to ask the Minister if he had appointed the advisory panel. Can the Minister tell the House who he has appointed to the advisory panel?

The discussion on media plurality was really interesting despite the fact that there was some conflict, in particular, about the presence of Deputy Lowry on the committee. I seldom have seen the Deputy attending the committee but he was in attendance. Some of us, including academics who gave witness, expressed the view that he had a conflict of interest by being there.

This is really about the cross-ownership and control of vested interests in various communications companies, including Communicorp and Independent News and Media. Now possibly, Celtic Media Group will be subject to ownership to a large degree by Denis O’Brien. We believe there may be an excessive degree of influence and control on print broadcasting and online media in the country. We need to be serious in dealing with our recommendations. We have a difficulty at the moment with the question of whether the committee will issue a recommendation because of the varying views. It would be helpful if the Minister could tell us who he has chosen for the advisory panel.

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