Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 30 June 2015
654. Deputy Michael Moynihan asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if he will provide a list of all media organisations that he or his predecessor met to discuss the media merger provisions of the Consumer Protection and Competition Act 2014 and his Department’s media merger guidelines; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25869/15]
View answerIn my role as Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources, I meet with representatives from media organisations on a regular basis, primarily from the broadcast sector. These meetings cover a variety of topics but I have not met any media organisation specifically to discuss the media merger provisions of the Consumer Protection and Competition Bill and/or the Department’s media merger guidelines.
With regard to my predecessor Deputy Pat Rabbitte, the only incidence of him meeting any media organisation specifically to discuss the media merger provisions of the Consumer Protection and Competition Bill and/or the Department’s media merger guidelines was his meeting with Mr. Denis O’Brien in the Department on 27 April 2012. Also present at the meeting were Minister Rabbitte's special advisor and the then Secretary General.
