Vol. 557 No. 5
90 Mr. Broughan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment her plans to examine competition in the newspaper market in view of the current concentration of ownership in one group of both local and national newspapers and other media. [23008/02]
The abuse of a dominant position by one or more enterprises is prohibited under section 5 of the Competition Act, 2002. The remedies available for aggrieved parties are to take an action against the enterprise allegedly perpetrating the abuse for relief by way of injunction to stop the abuse or for damages or both. Alternatively, an aggrieved person can make a complaint to the Competition Authority who are empowered to investigate and bring to court any infringement under the Competition Act, 2002.
Under the Competition Act, 2002, I have established a new regime for media mergers. I have incorporated the recommendations of the Commission on the Newspaper Industry into the merger provisions of the Act. From 1 January 2003 all media mergers – media covers newspapers, periodicals, broadcasting services and broadcasting services platforms – will be assessed under the following criteria: the strength and competitiveness of media businesses indigenous to the State; the plurality of ownership; the plurality of ownership of particular types of media businesses; the diversity of views in Irish society; the maintenance of cultural diversity and the position in the media market generally of any of the enterprises involved in the proposed merger or take-over or of any of the enterprises with an interest in any such enterprises.
In circumstances where the Competition Authority decides that a media merger be put into effect or put into effect with conditions, I will ultimately decide on the merger. These new criteria will focus attention on factors which are special to the media sector and will ensure that the special status of the media in Ireland is protected. I do not have any plans to undertake any examination into competition in the newspaper market at present.
