Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 20 June 2017
1764. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment if he will publish the report the BAI supplied to him regarding the proposed merger of two print media companies; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27371/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraI am keen to ensure that my Department's process of assessing Media Mergers is as transparent as possible, and to that end I intend to publish the phase 1 assessment reports of previous Media Mergers which have been approved since 2015 when cases started to be assessed under the revised Competition Act 2002.
My Department has written to the parties involved in the first six Media Mergers with a view to identifying any material contained in these reports which they consider to be of a commercially sensitive nature. Once my Department has considered the views of the parties in this regard, and any commercially sensitive information is redacted, I will publish the reports.
In relation to the case referred to by the Deputy, it is my intention to publish the relevant reports, including that submitted by the BAI, as soon as possible, having due regard for commercial sensitivity. My Department is to begin consulting with the parties over the coming weeks with a view to identifying any commercially sensitive information which should be redacted.
