Catherine Murphy (Kildare North, Social Democrats)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

112. To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if he has engaged with the local and regional media outlets that were party to a proposed media merger with a media group (details supplied) in the context of the future sustainability of diversity within local and regional media; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29719/17]

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

Following approval by the Competition and Consumer Protection Commission, notification of the proposed transaction referenced in the question was received by me as Minister on 21 November 2016. I had 30 working days from the notification deadline of 24 November 2016 to conduct an initial, or Phase 1, assessment of the case on media plurality grounds.

Prior to this notification and in accordance with the Guidelines on Media Mergers, my Department facilitated two pre-notification meetings with the representatives of the Parties, one on 22 September 2016 and one on 11 November 2016.

On completion of this Phase 1 examination, I decided on 10 January 2017 to request the BAI to conduct a full, or Phase 2, media merger examination of the proposed transaction. Furthermore, in accordance with the legislation, I established an advisory panel to provide an opinion to the BAI on the application of the relevant criteria in the legislation to the media merger in question.

I received the report and recommendations of the BAI on 9 May 2017. However, prior to the deadline for my determination, the parties notified the Department that the merger would not be proceeding. My Department had contact, as appropriate under the relevant legislation, with the Parties during this period.

The Deputy may be aware that it is my intention to publish the relevant reports, including that submitted by the BAI, as soon as possible, having due regard to commercial sensitivity. To this end, my Department has begun consulting with the Parties with a view to identifying any commercially sensitive information which should be removed prior to their publication.