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

I am disappointed that the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment is not present. I am a member of the joint committee which is shadowing his Department and wanted to refresh his memory regarding a number of discussions we had about the proposed takeover of Celtic Media early in 2017. It is obvious to everybody that the implications of what is going on in respect of the operations of the Office of the Director of Corporate Enforcement, ODCE, and the proposed takeover by Independent News & Media, INM, are huge and will probably mean that in the long run there will be a serious outcome for the State and the Government. This is not just down to an individual, whether he or she is on the side of corporate media or a Minister in the Government, it is also reflective of a culture in which the State and corporate bodies work for, and in protection, of each other. This should emerge from the current investigations. Rather than just the detailed finger wagging at each individual incident, it is important that the investigations expose to the people and the body politic what many instinctively know, that the wealthy and powerful who hold huge influence, particularly in media circles, get favourable treatment from the State, not just from the current Administration but also from previous Administrations and many people in the body politic in general. I would like the Minister to address these comments.

See this speech in context