Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

The Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment, Deputy Denis Naughten, made himself available yesterday when he made a very clear statement and answered questions for over an hour. The statement and questions, combined, lasted for an hour. He has given a comprehensive explanation of what happened. He made it clear this morning that he regretted the conversation. There is a responsibility on us to put the conversation in context.

To answer some of the Deputy's questions, it is my understanding the CCPC put on its website on 10 November the fact that it had made a decision on the proposed INM-Celtic Media merger. The Minister was not aware of it because it was not publicised. It was simply put on the website. The lobbyist concerned rang the Minister and informed him that the decision had been made. Clearly, he was trying to establish what would happen next. The Minister gave no information that was not already in the public domain. He gave a view, but he also made it very clear that he would be following the advice of his officials to the letter. That is exactly what he did when one traces through the months that followed. While the Minister is right to say it would have been better if the phone call had not taken place, he did not initiate it. He happens to be very accessible; his mobile phone number is on his website where anybody can get it. The lobbyist made a phone call. The Minister gave a view, but he also made it very clear in the context of that view that he would be following the advice of his officials, as he has done in other cases. That is exactly what happened. His view was based on no more than the legislation in place and information in the public domain.

That is the context in which the House should judge the issue, rather than trying to create something that is not based on a fair context and the facts as they have been presented, as some people have attempted to do. I am not suggesting the Deputy who has asked the question is in that category, but others have done so. My position is clear. I have listened to the Minister's explanation and I am satisfied with it. It is comprehensive. It would have been better if the conversation had not taken place.

This conversation did not reveal anything to this lobbyist except what anybody else who was informed about the legislation and who read the newspapers at the time would have said was going to be the likely scenario, that in the second stage of this process there would likely be a referral to the Broadcasting Authority of Ireland, BAI, but that the Minister would follow the advice of officials on this issue, which is exactly what he did, consistent with the legislation and his obligations.

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