Eugene Murphy (Roscommon-Galway, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

First, I should declare my involvement in the media. I worked as a presenter and producer with Shannonside-Northern Sound for 20 years. I also presented a programme on Irish television for a period agus uair amháin bhí mé ag obair do TG4 ar chlár ceoil. I was also a local correspondent with the Longford Leader. I have a major interest in this issue.

Like my colleagues, I acknowledge Deputy Catherine Murphy and Deputy Shortall bringing this to the House and giving us an opportunity to discuss something very important. We should focus on this continually because we do not want our media to be controlled by a few. Media are very important in this country because the first radio broadcast took place on 24 April 1916, the time of the Easter Rising. Since then, there has been a huge expansion of media, print, broadcasting, film and Internet. According to a survey, 85% of Irish people consistently and daily listen to national, regional or local radio. Fianna Fáil introduced local radio in 1989. Prior to that there was pirate radio. Commercial radio was not allowed. That brave decision opened up regional and local media. It was a very good decision. Local media cover stories well and make sure all issues of concern are aired or printed. That is very important.

The importance of media plurality is recognised through the new regime established by the Competition and Consumer Protection Act 2014. That Act introduced a new media merger system. Decisions on individual media merger cases are now officially the responsibility of the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment. At the time Deputy Bruton referred to it as the ultimate decision, whether a media merger is in the public interest.

The Competition and Consumer Protection Commission will determine if a merger has taken place and should be allowed go ahead on competition grounds. That happened not too long ago under the 2014 Act. Maybe in the future we will need to review those Acts to ensure the plurality exists. I am a protector of and advocate for free media, ensuring it is not owned by a few outlets or powerful individuals. I do not think the people would ever allow that to happen.

There has been a lot of talk in the debate about fake news. It is amazing that, although many of us do not like the policies of the man who introduced that, Mr. Trump, we are all talking about fake news. It is interesting that it has been brought into the debate. It is important to acknowledge the very good journalists in the print media and on radio and television in this country who have exposed many situations that needed to be exposed. The Deputies should not come to the view that because we are abstaining on this Bill it is a bad thing. It is obvious to us that there are parts of the Bill which we would agree with and we would work with the Deputies to improve them.

We fully support what they are trying to do in the Bill in relation to plurality. It is very important we keep a focus on that. As my colleagues, Deputies Timmy Dooley, Niamh Smyth and Lisa Chambers, have pointed out, there could be constitutional issues with this legislation. As a party, we do not feel we can support it at this stage. Therefore, like my colleagues I will be abstaining.

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