Sean Barrett (Independent) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister. The Minister referred to the history of this issue, which goes back a long time. There used to be a fear, almost paranoia, that imported newspapers would dominate the home newspapers. There was a certain amount of media self-obsession. There are 363 media outlets listed in the Institute of Public Administration Yearbook and Diary, that invaluable publication. I am sure the Minister and I could easily find another 40 imported publications on the shelves of the nearest newsagent. If one does not much like a particular newspaper one can buy another. Government is expensive, it is a difficult enough task and we have enough tasks on our hand. The reason I tabled the amendment, which effectively seeks to do nothing about this, is that I believe the problem is solving itself and that the Minister has many other duties to fulfil such as those we mentioned earlier. I will not push the amendment but the belief in Ireland that the media is anti-competitive is not borne out by the vast array of media, including many new media such as the new radio stations, the new newspapers - I mentioned those in Kerry yesterday. The risk that Mr. Murdoch that or somebody else who we may not like would buy it all is counteracted by the fact that it is an easy business to enter and the capital costs have been reduced. There will always be anti-establishment publications, such asPhoenixor whatever, where people can read alternative views. The concerns are ill-founded and based on a view that having governments, lawyers, review committees and competition authorities working in this area is a waste of resources because it does not have a competition problem.
I thank the Minister. I will not push the question to a vote but it is important that somebody gets the view into the parliament that if one does not like media one can simply buy a different set. As this Bill is about consumers, the consumer can solve this problem. I believe consumers have it well under control.