Vol. 440 No. 4
144 Ms F. Fitzgerald asked the Minister for Enterprise and Employment his policy in relation to the future development of the print media in this country and the problems of a company (details supplied); and if he intends to introduce legislation to ensure the future development of the industry.
Measures necessary to ensure the development of industry and the maintenance and creation of the maximum number of sustainable jobs are in place and are kept under constant review. The print media sector, like all other sectors of industry, operates within the internal market of the European Union and must, therefore, compete on this basis. The printing sector overall has seen rapid advances in new technology in recent years. In order to remain competitive the Irish newspaper industry must keep abreast of and introduce these new technologies. This will place the industry in a better position to operate in the competitive environment and meet the challenges ahead.
I have no plans to introduce specific legislation governing the development of the print media sector. I should add that existing legislation provides that any proposed merger or takeover, involving enterprises at least one of which is engaged in the printing and/or publication of one or more newspapers, must be notified to me in accordance with the Mergers, Takeovers and Monopolies (Newspapers) Order, 1979. On receipt of a proposal I have the power to: refer the proposal to the Competition Authority for investigation; and on receipt of the report of the Competition Authority I may either allow the proposal to proceed, or if I think the exigencies of the common good so warrant, may make an order prohibiting a notified proposal either absolutely or except on conditions.
However, I would point out, that no proposal has been received by me under the mergers and takeovers legislation in respect of the company in question.
