Michael Noonan
Question:36 Mr. Noonan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if she has received the report on the newspaper industry; and, if not, the reason for the delay. [4160/99]
Written Answers. - Newspaper Industry.
Nora Owen
Question:104 Mrs. Owen asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if she has received the report on the newspaper industry; and, if not, the reason for the delay. [4180/99]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 36 and 104 together.
The Competition and Mergers Review Group was established, under the chairmanship of Mr. Michael Collins, SC, by my predecessor with the following terms of reference; to review and made recommendations on the mergers legislation in the context of legislative consolidation; the effectiveness fo competition policy and associated regulations; cultural matters in the context of the Competition Act, 1991, and, in particular, section 4 of that Act, and appropriate structures for implementation of the above legislation.
I informed the House on 6 November 1997 that I had asked the group, in the context of their review of mergers and competition legislation, to take account of and advise me on how best to implement certain recommendations of the commission on the newspaper industry, relating specifically to the regulation of ownership, merger control and concentration of media ownership.
The group has already published its discussion document on mergers in July 1998. I understand that its newspaper discussion document is currently being finalised and the chairman expects to publish it shortly for comment from the public and interested parties. When these comments have been received, the chairman intends to incorporate the group's recommendations in the overall report and recommendations which will be presented to me.
The work of the group is complex and wide-ranging but it is making steady progress. I understand from the chairman that he now intends submitting the group's overall report to me later this year.