Media Mergers

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 19 February 2013

Tuesday, 19 February 2013

Ceisteanna (385)

Willie Penrose

Ceist:

385. Deputy Willie Penrose asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation when the necessary legislation will be brought forward to implement the recommendations of the advisory group on the media mergers which was published in January 2009 and in this context since the Government approved the draft heads of the Bill in July 2012, which indicated that the responsibility for carrying out the public interest test would transfer to the Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources; if he will now give a definitive date for the publication of the Bill; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8811/13]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation

Work on drafting the Consumer and Competition Bill is on-going and the Bill is included in the “A list” in the Government’s current Legislative Programme. In addition to giving effect to the recommendations of the Advisory Group on Media Mergers, the Bill will, inter alia, merge the National Consumer Agency and the Competition Authority, update and reform competition law on foot of a review of the operation and implementation of the Competition Act 2002, and introduce enabling provisions for a code of practice for the grocery goods sector.