Timmy Dooley (Clare, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

3. To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources his views on the planned takeover of seven Irish radio stations by an organisation (details supplied) and the effect on Irish media plurality and diversity; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21807/16]

Timmy Dooley (Clare, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

The Minister of State will be aware of a plan by News Corporation to take over seven Irish radio stations. I understand that for that to happen the consent of the Minister of State is required. I want to give him an opportunity to outline to the House his views and what he will take into account in arriving at that decision.

Denis Naughten (Roscommon-Galway, Independent)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

Under the amended Competition Act 2002, proposed mergers or acquisitions meeting certain criteria must be notified to the Competition and Consumer Protection Commission, CCPC. The CCPC must then examine the notification and decide if the merger may proceed on competition grounds. Media mergers which have received the CCPC's determination to proceed must also be notified to me as Minister. 

Upon notification, a phase 1examination of the merger is carried out by my Department. This examination is guided by the relevant criteria laid out in the legislation and by the Guidelines on Media Mergers, both of which are available on my Department's website. Following this examination, I have three options under the legislation, which are to allow the merger to proceed, to allow the merger to proceed with conditions or to ask the Broadcasting Authority of Ireland, BAI, to conduct a more in-depth or phase 2 examination of the proposed merger. If the latter is the case, then the BAI will provide me with a report detailing its recommendations on the matter. It is also possible for me, as Minister, to establish an advisory panel to provide an opinion to the BAI on the application of the relevant criteria to the media merger in question.

Following receipt of the BAI's report and recommendations, I must then make a decision either to allow the merger to proceed, to allow it to proceed with conditions or to refuse to grant my consent. I am aware that the case referred to by the Deputy is being considered by the CCPC, however it would not be appropriate for me to provide further comment at this time until the process is completed.

Timmy Dooley (Clare, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I am fine with that. That is good.