asked the Minister for Industry, Commerce and Energy whether he has any plans to control by legislation concentrations of Press ownership.
23.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Press Ownership.
22.
asked the Minister for Industry, Commerce and Energy if, in the light of the tendency towards the concentration of newspaper owner-ship, he will, in the public interest, to safeguard the freedom of the Press and preserve the element of competition, introduce appropriate legislation as soon as possible.
With the permission of the Ceann Comhairle, I propose to take Questions Nos. 22 and 23 together.
I am at present considering measures which would provide for the control of concentrations in general. I expect to have a Bill on these lines ready for consideration by the Oireachtas in the near future.
Is the Department to which the Minister is attached specifically monitoring recent developments in the newspaper industry in the capital and in the provinces with a view to ascertaining whether the growing concentration of ownership poses a threat to genuine freedom of expression?
All recent developments regarding concentrations are being monitored by my Department, and a Bill controlling all these types of concentrations will I hope be laid before the House in the next session.
Are the Government concerned about a trend towards consolidation of ownerships of the media in the country?
If that was to the detriment of the freedom of the Press the Government would be concerned.
In the context of the discussion on the question of licensing broadcasting stations, do the Government see an anomaly there?
That is a different question, and the Minister need not answer it.
What it boils down to is that there is one standard for the newspapers and another for the television.
That is an argument which we are not dealing with now.
It is a question of fundamental public policy.
It has nothing to do with the question.
(Interruptions.)
Order. We cannot have an argument across the floor.
Does the Minister consider that any recent or projected EEC directive would have any bearing on the matter under discussion?
That is a separate question.
Will the Minister tell the House if the legislation which is being planned envisages the prohibition of future concentrations of ownership in the Press, or goes further than that, and envisages breaking up concentrations which already exist?
That is a totally separate question. The Deputy is anticipating legislation.
That arises fairly and squarely out of the question.
The Deputy is inquiring as to what may be in legislation yet to be produced. There is no precedent for a reply to a question of that type.
What the Minister has said is that she will not tell me.
She answered the question and I must rule that the Deputy is not in order.
I trust that the Department will take legal advice on this legislation before bringing it in.