Vol. 931 No. 3
34. Deputy Timmy Dooley asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment if Ireland is on target to meet binding European Union 2020 renewable targets; the fines that will be realised if not achieved; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38773/16]
Could the Minister set out in the House the position on the binding European Union 2020 renewable targets and the fines that will be realised if we do not achieve the targets that have been set out?
I thank the Deputy for the question.
The Energy White Paper, Ireland's Transition to a Low-Carbon Energy Future, published in December last, sets out a vision for transforming Ireland's fossil fuel-based energy sector into a clean, low-carbon system by 2050.
The EU renewable energy directive set Ireland a legally binding target of meeting 16% of our energy demand from renewable sources by 2020. Ireland is committed to achieving this target through meeting 40% of electricity demand, 12% of heat and 10% of transport from renewable sources of energy, with the latter transport target also being legally binding.
The Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland, SEAI, has calculated that 25.3% of electricity, 6.5% of heat and 5.7% of transport energy requirements were met from renewable sources at the end of 2015. The SEAI analysis also shows that 9.1% of Ireland's overall energy requirements in 2015 were met from renewable sources and has estimated that this avoided over €286 million of fossil fuel imports.
The Government has a range of policy measures and schemes to incentivise the use of renewable energy and although good progress towards the target has been made to date, meeting the 16% target remains challenging. The renewable energy feed-in-tariff schemes support the development of a range of renewable electricity technologies including hydro, biomass combustion, biomass combined heat and power, landfill gas and onshore wind.
My Department is currently developing a proposed new renewable electricity support scheme and a new renewable heat incentive scheme, designed to assist us meeting our targets. The introduction of any new scheme, including the overall costs and technologies to be supported, will be subject to Government approval and state aid clearance from the European Commission.
In addition to our onshore wind resource, bioenergy, solar, offshore wind and other technologies may play a role in diversifying our renewable generation portfolio over the period to 2030.
Additional information not given on the floor of the House
In the transport sector, Ireland aims to meet its renewable target mainly through the increased use of sustainable biofuels, with electric vehicles also making a small contribution. A further increase to the obligation rate in the biofuels obligation scheme will take effect from 1 January 2017 when the rate will increase to 8% by volume.
The renewable energy directive provides a comprehensive framework for member states to work towards achieving individual and EU renewable energy targets, including mechanisms for countries to work together such as statistical transfers, which allow member states to meet their targets by purchasing credits from member states that overachieve on their renewable targets. The SEAI has estimated that the cost to Ireland of meeting our overall renewable energy targets other than through domestic measures may be in the range of €100 million to €150 million for each percentage point by which Ireland falls short of the overall 16% renewable energy target. While all options will be kept under review, the focus of my Department is on the implementation of the range of actions set out in the White Paper that will enable our transition to a low-carbon economy.
I thank the Minister for setting out the background. Yet again, there is a proposal to put a plan in place to reach the 2020 targets. It is the case that the figures reflect relatively paltry growth across the renewable energy sector and even show a 0.2% decrease in the portion of the heating sector powered by renewable sources. It is well recognised across the industry that we have made considerable headway in regard to the generation of electricity but we are very significantly behind regarding transport and the heating sector. I would like the Minister to explain, as best he can, when we can expect to see a plan setting out a method for achieving the targets set out for 2020. In doing so, can he identify for us what the cost will be if we do not reach those targets? The SEAI has estimated that the cost to Ireland may be in the range of €100 million to €150 million for each percentage point by which Ireland falls short of the overall 16% renewable energy target.
I disagree that there has been paltry growth across the sector. In fairness, the Deputy has acknowledged that, on the electricity side, significant progress has been made. I accept that a lot more can be done with regard to both transport and heat. Transport falls within the competency of the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport, Deputy Shane Ross, and heat falls within my remit. I hope to be in a position later this month to circulate for the final phase of public consultation the proposal regarding the renewable heat incentive scheme. Our objective is to try, in so far as is humanly possible, to reach the renewable heat target of 12% by 2020. We are determined to push that along.
Tempting as it is to transfer some of the burden to the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport – I understand why it might be – there are so many burdens on his shoulders right now, sadly, that I suspect he will not get next nor near the transport sector to address its impact on climate change. It would be helpful if the Minister could confirm the estimate of the SEAI that for every percentage point by which Ireland falls short of the 16% target, the cost to the State in fines will be in the region of €100 million to €150 million. Could he address that? Could he identify in so far as he can – we will be dealing with this in another question – what more he believes he can do in the energy generation sector? Perhaps we will leave that for the next question. Could the Minister address the impact of fines and give us a quantum in that regard? Could he confirm that the responsibility for the impact of the transport sector on climate change rests with himself? The co-operation of the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport is required, of course, from an overall policy perspective in putting the transport sector into a position in which it can meet its targets.
I confirm that the SEAI has estimated that the cost to Ireland may be in the range of €100 million to €150 million for every percentage point by which we fall short. This does not relate to fines but to having to buy off the shortfall. Whether there will be fines is a completely separate matter.
On the burden on transport, policy responsibility lies with the Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport, not my Department. That said, however, the two initiatives on the transport area have been progressed by my Department. I refer to the initiatives on biofuel substitution and the blending of fuels and on electric vehicles, both of which have been pushed forward by my Department. What I have is overall responsibility for co-ordinating what takes place across all Departments. That is why we will be putting out for public consultation within the next few weeks the draft mitigation plan. It will examine the measures across all Departments to deal with energy reduction and the use of renewable heat. We will be announcing our draft proposals on renewable heat within the next couple of weeks. Therefore, there will be significant movement on many of these aspects over the coming weeks. People will get the opportunity to have an input. I look forward to the feedback of Deputy Timmy Dooley and to making progress thereafter.
35. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment if he will use his powers to prevent the purchase of a company (details supplied) in the interest of maintaining a level of media plurality here. [38677/16]
Members are very aware of the damaging effects of the lack of media plurality and that this is having an effect on our democracy. A threat of legal action is hanging over this House at present. The situation is untenable if the purchase of Celtic Media Group by Independent News and Media is allowed to go ahead unchecked, thus adding more regional newspapers to its empire. The Anglo Celt, the Meath Chronicle, the Connaught Telegraph, the Offaly Independent, the Westmeath Examiner, the Westmeath Independent and the Dublin People would be added to Denis O'Brien's already vast media empire.
Following approval by the Competition and Consumer Protection Commission, notification of the proposed merger referenced in the question was received by me as Minister on 21 November 2016. I have 30 working days from the notification deadline of 24 November 2016 to conduct an initial, or phase 1, assessment of the case on media plurality grounds. This examination is guided by the relevant criteria laid out in the legislation and by the guidelines on media mergers, both of which are available on my Department's website.
Following this examination, I have three options under the legislation, which are to allow the merger to proceed, to allow the merger to proceed with conditions or to ask the Broadcasting Authority of Ireland, BAI, to conduct a more in-depth, or phase 2, examination of the proposed merger.
If the third option is the case, then the BAI will, following its examination of the proposed merger, provide me with a report detailing its recommendations on the matter. It is also possible for me as Minister to establish an advisory panel to provide an opinion to the BAI on the application of the relevant criteria to the media merger in question. Following receipt of the BAI's report and recommendations, I must then make a decision to allow the merger to proceed, to allow it to proceed with conditions or to refuse to grant my consent. It would not be appropriate for me to provide any further comment while this case is under consideration.
I thank the Minister for his reply. The issue of Mr. Denis O'Brien's Independent News and Media, INM, purchasing the Celtic Media Group is one of the most serious issues facing democracy and the media at this time. I am concerned about whether the Government is taking it seriously enough. There is a great deal of talk about plurality and so on, but are we taking it seriously when we have media moguls with fat wallets running to the courts to silence Members of this House? We need clarity on this.
A European Parliament report was published on the concentration of media ownership in this country. It described Ireland as having "one of the most concentrated media markets of any democracy." An additional report published by KRW Law and Doughty Street Chambers and commissioned by my party colleague, Ms Lynn Boylan, MEP, identified two main controlling entities - RTE, the State broadcaster, and the individual businessman, Mr. Denis O'Brien.
I thank the Deputy. Time is up.
RTE is the State broadcaster and that is not a problem, per se.
The Deputy is right, in that there is a great deal of talk about plurality. There is also a great deal of commentary as to my views on it. I have not made my views known and I am not going to. I have a decision to make and I will make it in line with the legislation. It must be emphasised that the media mergers process is a statutory, regulatory process that I, as Minister, am responsible for conducting. The nature of this process is clearly set out in legislation and the guidelines on media mergers, both of which are available on my website for anyone to view. There is no role set out in the legislation for Cabinet involvement or the involvement of any Oireachtas committee or Member in that process. I will fulfil my requirements to the letter of the law as set out in those documents, which are available on my website.
Has the Minister read the Doughty Street Chambers report, which was commissioned by Ms Boylan? It describes us as having a perfect storm that threatens news plurality and undermines the media's ability to perform its function as a watchdog. This is important. INM publishes the Irish Independent, the Sunday Independent, the Evening Herald, the Sunday World and the Belfast Telegraph and has a 50% stake in the Daily Star. The Communicorp Group, which is owned by the same shareholder, controls Newstalk, Today FM, 98 FM, SPIN 1038 and SPIN South West, or approximately 20% of the entire market.
The legislation is clear on this and gives the Minister powers. The 2014 Act refers to "the undesirability of allowing any one undertaking to hold significant interests [which is defined as in excess of a 20% share] within a sector or across different sectors of media business in the State". We cannot have a situation in which one or two individuals can control such large chunks of influence and power.
I thank the Deputy. His time is up.
There are rumours and talk about the influence that these individuals have over the Government.
Time is up, Deputy. I am sorry.
This is an opportunity-----
The Minister to respond.
To conclude, the Minister has the power. He has outlined the three options that he has. I am asking for him-----
Deputy, please. Your time is up.
-----to take option No. 1 and to rule against this merger.
The Minister to respond, please.
I will make my decision as set out in the legislation and I am not going to take anyone else's opinion other than the advice that I am given based on the assessments, including legal and statutory, as set out in respect of this matter. That is the approach that I am going to-----
Has the Minister taken the NUJ's word on the matter on board?
The approach that I will be taking is on my website in black and white for people to read. Based on the advice that is presented to me, I will consider the three options that are open to me. I will take the most appropriate option in that regard based on the evidence that is presented to me.
I have had the opportunity to read Ms Boylan's report. It is a pity that I did not have a copy of it in advance of the last time these questions were tabled.
36. Deputy Timmy Dooley asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment if the national broadband plan will bridge the digital divide outlined in the recent Switcher.ie report; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38774/16]
The Minister will be aware of the recent Switcher.ie report, which outlined the digital divide based on 27,000 broadband speed tests across Ireland. Will he respond to that report and what is his assessment of it?
The national broadband plan aims to deliver high-speed services to every city, town, village and individual premises in Ireland. A Programme for a Partnership Government commits to the delivery of the national broadband plan as a matter of priority. This is being achieved through private investment by commercial telecommunications companies and through a State intervention in areas where commercial investment has not been fully demonstrated.
The Deputy refers in his question to the Switcher.ie report, which points out wide disparities between the levels of service available in different parts of the country. The national broadband plan aims to address these disparities and provide quality connectivity for everyone in every part of Ireland regardless of where he or she lives or works.
My Department is now in a formal procurement process to identify the entity or entities to build, roll out, operate and deliver high-speed broadband to all premises within the intervention area. The three bidders in the procurement process have indicated that they are proposing a predominantly fibre-to-the-home solution for rural Ireland under the national broadband plan intervention. Householders and businesses may potentially be able to avail of speeds of up to 1,000 Mbps, with businesses potentially availing of symmetrical upload and download speeds. This is a solution that will endure for 25 years and beyond. It will also effectively remove the digital divide.
A Programme for a Partnership Government commits to measures to assist in the roll-out of the network once a contract is awarded. In this regard, the Minister for Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs, Deputy Humphreys, is leading the establishment of two regional action groups, working with local authorities, local enterprise offices and other relevant agencies to help accelerate the broadband network build in rural areas once the contract or contracts have been awarded.
In a further positive initiative, I established last July the mobile phone and broadband task force with the Minister, Deputy Humphreys, to address immediate issues relating to the quality of mobile phone and broadband coverage. I expect the task force to report in the coming weeks.
The Minister will be aware from previous parliamentary replies that he has given to my party that the data show that nearly 50% of all homes and businesses in 12 counties may have to wait until 2022 to achieve the high-speed broadband set out in the Minister's plan. That is dependent on whether the plan remains on its current track. Since the tender has not gone to the marketplace yet, it is difficult to see how even that date can be achieved.
In the constituency that I know best, the average speed stands at approximately 17.4 Mbps. That is paltry. Has the Minister conducted a further review of the documents that he intends to present to the marketplace and is he still sticking with the benchmark of 30 Mbps? Will he at least consider 100 Mbps as the minimum download speed for the national broadband plan?
The three consortia involved in the tender process have said that it is their intention to use the fibre-to-the-home solution predominantly. This will mean that homes and premises will receive up to 1,000 Mbps, well in advance of 30 Mbps. That is the challenge facing us with the national broadband plan and was one of the mistakes that was made, in that, at the time of the initial procurement process, the benchmark was set too low.
There are clear caveats set out in the tender documentation which runs to 1,000 pages where it is clearly stated that as demand and average speeds in urban areas increase, the service in rural areas must keep in step with them. That is why, because of the way we have structured the tender process, the three consortia are looking at a predominantly fibre-to-the-home solution. We are not talking about 100 Mbps, 200 Mbps or even 300 or 400 Mbps but about up to 1,000 Mbps, should people require it.
Am I to understand the tender documents will require speeds up to 1 GB or will it be a lower level, with the three consortia suggesting in the preliminary round of discussions that they would like to and will probably use fibre? At the end of the day the response will be based on the request for a proposal and unless the request for a proposal sets out that there is a requirement to use fibre, the Minister will have no way of ensuring or insisting on those who respond using fibre to all homes. Will the Minister confirm whether he intends to have the lower limit of 30 Mbps as the base requirement or if it will be increased to 100 Mbps, or if the tender documents will be silent on download speeds and require a fibre solution? I seek clarity for those who are waiting and forbearing, given the fact that it will be on the way at some stage.
The fact is that there are services on the way for the vast majority of customers across the country in advance of the roll-out of the national broadband plan. That is why we are focusing immediately on implementation of the task force's report on mobile phone and broadband services. We will publish the results in the next couple of weeks. The contract based on EU state aid rules must be technology neutral. We have to be cognisant of this, but the base requirement is that the technology used must be future proofed for the next 25 years. As the Deputy is aware, the European Commission has published its proposals for a 1 gigabit society. Because of this, the technology will have to be able to accommodate that speed in the future. At the end of the day what technology the companies propose is up to them, but they must comply with the requirement set down and because of this they are proposing a predominantly fibre-to-the-home solution.
37. Deputy Michael Collins asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the reason mobile phone coverage throughout west Cork has deteriorated in the past 12 months (details supplied); the reason this was allowed to happen; and the way in which phone companies can provide a service at this level in view of perceived evidence throughout the country of a collapse in service. [38864/16]
Why has mobile phone coverage throughout west Cork and elsewhere in the country regressed in the past 12 months? Prior to the merger of the mobile service providers O2 and Three, figures show that they had a total of 3,180 masts. However, once the merger is fully complete by 2019 there will be a total of 2,300 masts, which implies a loss of 880. Mobile phone coverage, in west Cork in particular, is suffering because Three has cut the equivalent of 68% of its masts. ComReg is not intervening on the removal of 880 mobile masts, mainly in rural communities. I call on the Minister to ensure it will investigate the O2 and Three merger in terms of the effect it has had on mobile phone coverage.
If people are experiencing difficulty with mobile phone coverage, they should, please, first, go to the company involved and, second, to ComReg to express their frustration. That is vitally important. From talking to many Deputies and colleagues in west Cork and throughout the country, it appears that in areas where there had been excellent reception people are now experiencing decreased or non-existent mobile phone coverage. The recent merger between two mobile phone companies has led to a major mobile phone issue throughout the country. Similar to broadband, it is also rural communities that have been affected.
The management of radio spectrum is a function of the independent regulator for the telecommunications sector, the Commission for Communications Regulation, ComReg. Licences issued by ComReg impose terms and conditions on mobile network operators, including minimum population coverage obligations. ComReg monitors compliance in that regard by means of biannual drive tests. However, given its independence, I have no statutory function in the matter of auditing mobile coverage. I am critically aware of the frustration being experienced across Ireland, where mobile networks are not always delivering the services people expect. Any customer, including those in west Cork and its environs, who experiences service difficulties should raise the matter with the service provider in the first instance. If the service provider fails to resolve matters, customers can refer a complaint to ComReg which will investigate the service provider's compliance with its contractual obligations. I have passed on the details provided by the Deputy to ComReg for its attention. My Department is also following up directly with one of the operators in west Cork, where specific problems have been identified. I understand officials from my Department have been in direct contact with the Deputy.
Mobile network operators have invested significantly in rolling out improved services, following ComReg's multi-band spectrum auction. At least one operator now has in excess of 90% 4G population coverage. The rate of demand for data services has, however, increased by 500% in the past four years and this presents a continuing challenge for mobile network operators, regulators and policy makers, both in Ireland and internationally.
Additional information not given on the floor of the House
Recognising this challenge, I specifically included in the programme for Government a commitment to a mobile phone and broadband task force. In July I established the task force, together with the Minister for Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs, Deputy Heather Humphreys, which aims to unlock barriers to investment in mobile and broadband services. The terms of reference of the task force state it will identify and recommend practical actions that can be taken to improve mobile reception and broadband access. The task force has met approximately 20 times, with a number of helpful initiatives emerging in the areas of planning, local authority engagement and consumer information and engagement. The task force involves Departments and agencies, as well as engagement with ComReg and telecoms operators. I anticipate that we will bring a report later this month on foot of the work of the task force. The report will set out specific timelines for the delivery of its recommendations and actions.
Under the programme for Government, the Minister, Deputy Heather Humphreys, has also established two regional action groups to work with local authorities, local enterprise offices, Leader groups and other relevant agencies in helping to accelerate the roll-out of broadband and mobile services at local level. In addition, I recently signed regulations allowing ComReg to proceed with an early 2017 allocation of spectrum in the 3.6 GHz radio spectrum band. This will provide for an 86% increase in total spectrum available for mobile and fixed wireless services.
In my Department's Estimates for 2017 I have secured €8 million for RTE to allow it to free up the 700 MHz spectrum band. ComReg will, in turn, make plans to allocate this spectrum to provide for significantly enhanced mobile coverage. The 700 MHz band is particularly suited to rural environments where the signal can travel long distances. These initiatives should assist in enhancing the quality of mobile phone and data services across Ireland, particularly in rural Ireland. In parallel, the national broadband plan aims to deliver high speed services to every city, town, village and individual premises in Ireland through private investment and a State intervention in areas where commercial investment has not been fully demonstrated.
The procurement process is under way and the three bidders have indicated that they are proposing a predominantly fibre-to-the-home solution in rural Ireland. Intensive dialogue with the bidders is ongoing, with a view to putting in place contracts that will deliver the NBP network and put Ireland to the forefront internationally in terms of connectivity.
Mention was made of getting involved in discussions with the companies, but we have been trying to do this in recent months since the issue arose. Coverage was poor to start with, but it has got worse. The company does not seem to realise this. Every excuse is given to customers and elected representatives and we cannot seem to resolve the issue. In my area of west Cork, along the N71 and R586, the two main thoroughfares into west Cork, from Skibereen to Leap and into Clonakilty there is no mobile phone coverage. On the other side of the R586 in Dunmanway and into Ballineen the position is the same. It is not good enough in this day and age; we are back to levels in the Third World where countries have made far more progress than we have. One could ask why that is the case. Will the Minister intervene? There are too many rules and regulations. ComReg seems to have dictatorial rule over the country and the Minister must intervene on behalf of the people. I have confidence that he can do this because he is an excellent Minister in many fields. I would appreciate if he worked on the matter.
I have accepted the challenge the Deputy put to me. That is why, during the talks on the programme for Government, I proposed the establishment of a task force to deal with the problems with mobile phone coverage and wireless and mobile broadband services. The task force was established in July and will publish its recommendations in the coming weeks. However, I have not waited for it to publish its recommendations. We have been able to address some of the issues that have arisen in the interim as part of an ongoing process and will make announcements in the coming weeks in that regard. This is an ongoing process that will improve the quality of mobile phone coverage, improve 3G and 4G broadband coverage, as well as wireless broadband coverage. That is why in October I released the 3.6 GHz spectrum, which will allow for additional capacity on both mobile and wireless networks to improve the services available.
Were politicians involved in the task force? It is important that they be involved. We had a meeting with the mobile phone companies perhaps six weeks ago in the AV room and I had never seen such anger – right across the country, not just west Cork- at any meeting I had attended since I was elected to Dáil Éireann. Politicians are getting it in the neck because the reception is getting worse, not better, and we are responsible for it. Under Irish telecoms law, mobile network operators are only required to cover between 70% and 80% of the country’s population and there is no legal requirement to cover rural areas. Under a 2014 agreement in the United Kingdom, all four mobile network operators collectively agreed to guarantee voice and text coverage across 90% of the geographical area of the United Kingdom by 2017. I urge the Minister to work with all the Irish mobile network operators to agree to a similar arrangement. Everybody has a right to the same service, regardless of where he or she lives.
Everybody has a right to the same service, no matter where he or she lives. That is why I ensured the task force would include representatives of rural communities across the country who were experiencing at first hand problems with mobile phone coverage.
I have raised concerns about Three coverage in west Cork and my Department has spoken on numerous occasions with Three about the issue. There appears to be a technical issue with one of the Three sites where there may be external interference causing disruption to the signal. However, the site is a secure site owned by a third party and Three is awaiting access to the site from the owner. Should the interference be confirmed, it is a matter that will be taken up with ComReg. I understand that engagement with ComReg has subsequently taken place. I have an information note about that which I will pass on to the Deputy. We are hopeful we can make progress, specifically in respect of the problem in west Cork. This is a problem across the country that I as Minister do not believe is acceptable with regard to existing coverage or providing mobile phone coverage on a population basis rather than a geographic one. I hope to get the opportunity as Minister to change that.
38. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the steps that can be taken to address the anomaly whereby the significant interest test in the Consumer and Competition Authority Act 2014 has been exceeded by any person in the media sector; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38856/16]
This question has been prompted by a proposed acquisition involving Celtic Media Group. It concerns whether an anomaly in the legislation exists with regard to the significant interest test and the Competition and Consumer Protection 2014 in situations where the 20% market test has been exceeded.
The Competition and Consumer Protection Act 2014 gives the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the responsibility for assessing proposed media mergers and empowers the Minister to prevent any merger that is deemed likely to be contrary to the public interest in maintaining the plurality of media in the State. There is no retrospective element to this legislation. Attempting to intervene in the operation of a media business when no merger is planned would be difficult and, given that the purpose of the legislation is to safeguard media pluralism, is likely to be counter-productive.
Applying a retrospective element to the legislation could, effectively, mean empowering a Government Minister to interfere in the operation of any media organisation at any given time. This would raise a number of difficult questions about preserving the freedom and independence of the press even before one considers the legal and constitutional complexities associated with retrospective action of this kind.
In my view, the reforms introduced in the Competition and Consumer Protection Act 2014 have struck the correct balance in this area and are working well and, as a result, I am confident that we have a robust and effective set of measures in place to support and encourage a plural and diverse media.
I would describe something as working well when it is really tested and this is one of the tests. It concerns the proposed acquisition of Celtic Media Group where there is already a difficulty relating to the existing degree of media plurality. Media must be judged across a range of platforms. It is an evolving sector but this does not seem to have been factored into the process. This case involves Independent News & Media, Communicorp and the digital platforms that go with that. The lack of media plurality is an unhealthy situation in a democracy. The very fact that there is no prospect of retrospective action means that at the very least, we should not make a bad situation worse. Will this be considered in the context of the decision the Minister must make and will he look at it as more than property rights? Will media plurality from the citizen's perspective be the first item he will consider?
From the notification deadline on 24 November in respect of the proposed merger referenced by the Deputy, I have 30 working days to conduct a phase one assessment of the case. I will only make my assessment on media plurality guidelines. What I will consider in that context is set out on my Department's website. I have not received the report from my officials yet. When I do receive that report, I will read it and make the decision. I have three options. I can allow the merger to proceed, allow it to proceed with conditions or ask the Broadcasting Authority of Ireland to conduct a more in-depth examination of the proposed measure. I will comply to the letter of the law in respect of this, as I have done with the other media merger requests that have come before me.
Will the Minister read into the record what the timeline is in the event that the Minister involves the Broadcasting Authority of Ireland? What timeline are we looking at? Will the fact that the 20% threshold has been reached and the fact that, should the Minister agree to this, there is no prospect of a retrospective decision enter into his consideration?
In respect of what I will and will not consider, I will consider everything that is appropriate for me to consider as set out in the 2014 Act and as set out on the Department's website. I am not sure about the Broadcasting Authority of Ireland timeline because I have had a number of applications that I have had to consider up to now, none of which have been referred to the authority, but I will clarify that for the Deputy. I am not sure about the exact timeline within which the authority must report back to me but I will come back to the Deputy about that.
