Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 2 May 2017
1290. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment if the Broadcasting Authority of Ireland has provided an update on the proposed media merger involving the acquisition of sole control of a company (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20261/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraFollowing 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 had 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 was guided by the relevant criteria laid out in the legislation and by the Guidelines on Media Mergers, which are available on my Department's website. The examination process laid out in the legislation and the Guidelines requires consideration to be given to a number of important criteria or measures, including diversity of ownership in the relevant media sector and in the wider media market, editorial management, governance structures, and the financial standings of the parties to the proposed merger.
On completion of this Phase 1 examination, I decided on 10 January 2017 to request the BAI to conduct a full media merger examination of the proposed transaction. The BAI will, following its examination of the proposed merger, provide me with a report detailing its recommendations on the matter within 80 working days from the date of my request. Furthermore, in accordance with the legislation, I established an advisory panel to provide an opinion to the BAI on the application of the relevant criteria in the legislation to the media merger in question.
In accordance with the timeline prescribed by the legislation, the BAI must submit its report and recommendations to me, as Minister, by 10 May 2017 at the latest. Upon receipt of these, I have a further 20 working days within which I must make a final determination to allow the proposed acquisition to proceed; to allow the proposed acquisition to proceed with conditions; or to refuse to allow the proposed acquisition to proceed.
As the statutory process is not yet concluded, it would not be appropriate for me to comment on this case.
