Sean Barrett (Independent) | Oireachtas source

This section deals with the media. The media in Ireland is highly competitive and, therefore, I question whether we need it in a competition and consumer protection Bill. Listed in the Institute of Public Administration Yearbook and Diary 2014, pages 275 to 291, are 17 national papers, 60 regional papers, nine free sheets, 33 radio stations, four TV stations, 240 periodicals, ranging from Accountancy Ireland to Zoo matter, amounting to 363 media outlets. By the concentration ratios that the Minister and I used to study in the Herfindahl index, this is a perfectly competitive industry. It is easy to enter and if one does not like the existing products there are another 362 that one can buy. I know the degree of concentration is a matter of great fascination in certain media public houses but, in fact, it is not a concentrated industry, it is a very competitive industry. Unlike some of those the Minister and I discussed earlier where we were trying to inject competition, this one is already competitive and I do not see the need to bother the new commission in getting involved in this field.