Dara Calleary (Mayo, Fianna Fail)
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24. To ask the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation his views that the delay in introducing legislation in relation to media mergers has been damaging to the diversity of content within the sector and its overall development; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2964/14]

Richard Bruton (Dublin North Central, Fine Gael)
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Media mergers are covered by the Competition Act, 2002. The Advisory Group on Media Mergers’ Report of June 2008 on media mergers recommended that the Competition Authority should remain responsible for the examination of the lessening of competition test and that the appropriate Minister should have responsibility for a new public interest test.

Recent statistics show there are a small number of media mergers each year, most of which do not require in-depth examination under the Competition Act, 2002 (so called “Phase 2” investigations). The last media merger that required a “Phase 2” investigation was in 2009.

These figures do not bear out the suggestion that the presence or lack of legislation has been damaging to the diversity of content within the sector or with its overall development.

The Competition and Consumer Protection Bill will implement, for the most part, the recommendations of the Advisory Group on Media Mergers. Publication of the Bill is expected in the coming weeks. Post-enactment, responsibility for the public interest aspect of media merger determinations will transfer to the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources.