Terry Leyden (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

The Irish Timesis an honourable newspaper. It will look after the interests of regional newspapers well and allow them editorial independence and responsibility.

That the Government did not make a decision on the proposed takeover by Independent News & Media, INM, of Celtic Media was a major error, in that it could have put those local newspapers in jeopardy. I call on the Minister to be decisive and approve the deal. He should not allow this to linger. He should not be scared by the reaction to the non-decision on INM and Celtic Media. Grasp the nettle, do not let the horse bolt, make a decision and be decisive. Do not be concerned about criticism from any party. Get the file. It is either "Yes" or "No", but do not wait for two or three months, by which time The Irish Timesmight have decided to pull out of the deal. That is the danger.

My general impression of this Government is that it is indecisive. It has no strong decision makers from the Taoiseach down. That will be the path it will burn on eventually. Its indecisiveness is evident in the appointment of Ministers of State, which is a strange situation. Ministers of State rotating in that manner never happened before in the history of the State. It was not a good idea.