Vol. 516 No. 5
99 Mr. S. Ryan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment when she will bring proposals to Government arising from the report of the Commission on the Newspaper Industry; the action, if any, she will take to secure the implementation of the recommendation made by the commission for the appointment of an ombudsman to investigate breaches of standards; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8001/00]
I requested the Competition and Mergers Review Group, which was established by my predecessor in September 1996, to advise me on how best to implement certain recommendations of the Commission on the Newspaper Industry dealing with competition issues. The review group published a discussion document on these matters in March 1999 and invited comments on its document by 30 April 1999.
The recommendations referred to the review group concern, first, the factors to be considered in regulating changes of ownership of newspapers; second, an amendment to merger law to enable consideration to be given to the acquisition of control over newspapers by means other than the acquisition of shares and, finally, the consideration of the issue of concentration of ownership on a media-wide as well as on a single media basis.
These newspaper competition issues only form one part of the wide ranging work of the review group which has also published discussion documents on the law on mergers, general issues of competition law and the Groceries Order. I can inform the House that this morning the Chairman of the Competition and Mergers Review Group presented me with the report and recommendations on all the matters referred to it. I will consider the report over the coming weeks and if I decide that legislation is required to implement any changes, I will present my proposals to Government.
The Commission on the Newspaper Industry also recommended that an independent ombudsman be appointed and funded by the newspaper industry to investigate complaints of breaches of press standards. I strongly support this recommendation but implementation is clearly a matter for the newspaper industry itself. I understand the industry may be linking this recommendation to other recommendations in the commission's report concerning changes in the libel laws. This is a matter for the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform who has indicated that proposals for legislation on defamation are being prepared in his Department.
When is the Minister likely to have clarity on some of the legislation decisions, for example, which will be required as a result of the report? What are her thoughts on any prospective further extension of concentration of ownership of newspapers on this island? Does she intend to consider the issue of cross-ownership as between the newspaper and broadcasting sectors?
The answer to the last question is yes. It is extremely important, particularly in an electronic and digital environment, that we would consider cross-ownership. I intend to read the report of the review group which I would like to publish in the next two weeks. The report runs to more than 300 pages and the group has given considerable consideration to the matters raised by the Deputy.
I have stated on many occasions that competition in the newspaper industry is perhaps more important than in any other area. I am a strong advocate of competition which brings about change and increases consumer choice more quickly than anything else. That is particularly the case in the newspaper industry and that view will guide me in regard to any decisions I make after reading the report.
Will the 1987 Groceries Order be retained or abolished?
This question relates to newspapers, not groceries.
The matter is dealt with by the Competition Authority which provided a report to the Minister today.
The Competition Authority deals with a variety of matters.
The question of whether the Groceries Order will be retained or abolished is very important.
It may well be, but we have reached the end of Question Time.
Written Answers follow Adjournment Debate.
