Sign in. It’s quick, free and it’s up to you.
An account is an optional way to support the work we do. Find out more.
TAOISEACH ENDA KENNY has ruled out the possibility of an inquiry into media ownership in Ireland.
Catherine Murphy had raised the issue in the Dáil after the Competition and Consumer Protection Commission approved the acquisition of the Celtic Media group by Independent News and Media (INM). The move means that INM will now control five national newspapers and 28 regional papers around Ireland.
Replying to Social Democrats TD Catherine Murphy, Kenny said: “I do not see any reason for the setting up of a commission of inquiry into the matter.”
Speaking in the Dáil, Murphy said the Competition and Consumer Protection Commission approved the acquisition of the Celtic Media group by Independent News and Media (INM).
She said the ball was now in the government’s court, stating that it is now “up to the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment and presumably the Cabinet to accept or reject this acquisition”.
Media ownership in Ireland is a “high risk”
Citing a recent a report authored by Dr. Roddy Flynn of Dublin City University she said he identified the concentration of media ownership in Ireland as a “high risk”.
“That was echoed earlier this year in a European Commission report, which found that the position in Ireland was the subject of the highest level of concern and identified a lack of legal barriers as an issue.”
Murphy also cited a report, commissioned by Sinn Féin MEP Lynn Boylan for an EU grouping, which took aim at both RTÉ and billionaire media mogul Denis O’Brien.
It is difficult to see how an agency involved in consumer protection could approve the proposed acquisition, particularly in a sector that has the potential to undermine our democracy. INM publishes the Irish Independent, the Sunday Independent, the Evening Herald, the Sunday World and the Belfast Telegraph. It has a 50% stake in the Irish Daily Star and controls 13 paid-for regional weekly newspapers.
If INM’s acquisition of the Celtic Media group goes ahead, it will control 28 regional titles across the country in addition to the national titles I have mentioned. The radio sector is also relevant in this context. Communicorp, which is owned by the same majority shareholder as INM, controls Newstalk, Today FM, 98FM, Spin 103 and Spin South West, or approximately 20% of the entire radio market. Although I appreciate that print and broadcast media are different, it is essential for the cross-ownership of INM and Communicorp to be considered in tandem.
‘Why make the situation worse?’
Addressing the Taoiseach she asked:
“If there is already a problem with the over-concentration of media ownership, why would the government make that situation worse? That is the obvious question.”
“While media concentration is an issue in its own right, the ownership of such a large proportion of our print broadcasting and digital media by someone who has consistently used the courts to create a chilling effect on journalists and other media outlets has to be questioned in the most serious terms. The person to whom I refer, Denis O’Brien, was the subject of adverse findings in the Moriarty tribunal, as the Taoiseach is aware.”
She said the media acquisition is clearly against the public interest. She asked the Taoiseach would he oppose the acquisition? He was also asked if would support the National Union of Journalists’ (NUJ) call to initiate a public commission on the future of the media to examine ownership, editorial control, employment standards including pension rights and measures to protect editorial independence?
Media ownership report
In his reply, the Taoiseach said Minister Naughten is examining the report (which he was previously called out for not reading).
Kenny said the Competition and Consumer Protection Act 2014 gives the minister for communications the power to block any media merger that is deemed likely to be contrary to the public interest in maintaining the plurality of media in the State.
However he said the Act did not give the minister the power to act retrospectively or to assess a media business in the absence of a proposed merger, as he said to do so would be to interfere with the property rights enshrined in Article 43 of the Constitution.
He said to do this “which would raise a myriad of legal complexities”.
Despite Murphy and her party colleague asking the Taoiseach on a number of occasions if he agreed with the merger, Kenny did not did not answer the question.
To embed this post, copy the code below on your site
Good luck to Catherine Murphy, Róisín Shortall and Stephen Donnelly on forming a new party, we need something different.
Do you know if it has a website yet – I like Catherine and Roisin – principled !
and Mr. Donnelly warned of constitutional issues before Fine Gael , Fianna fail and Labour voted on the prom deal ….among other things as well as representing the generation that are shafted by the mortgages from Trichet’s hell and Drumm’s ass !
Just anther ragtag grouping of left wingers, nothing new on offer there.
no socialism – no taxes – no slush fund for tax-exiles -
you haven’t thought this through have you E. ?
That’s capitalists for you – thinking with the greed brain all the time ……
Pity these principles didn’t stretch to organisiatons that were being formed ages back. It takes years to whittle out anything new that would last. BUT, as always it’s a fight for attention with these TD’s well principled as they may first appear. As someone said to me a while back, “every hairdresser dreams of their own salon one day” and because of this deep seated psychology, you will be hard pressed to find any Irish ‘politician’ happy working with anyone else, patriotism being the last thing on their minds moreover the spotlight and of course saving their seat.
Stephen Donnelly is IMO the most impressive TD we have. Not afraid to speak and when he does it is common sense that comes out.. An awful shame that Noonan et al won’t listen.. Good luck to this new party. Please run somebody decent in Mayo so we can have a different voice to the usual FF/FG nonsense..(an approach to Ind Councillor Michael Kilcoyne from Castlebar might be worth a look. To take a seat in Enda’s patch you’d need an established voice such as his).
You should read the Irish constitution Martin – the principles are long established but then again DeVAlera hung true Republicans – a true foreign agent if ever there was one !
It’s called a brain fart
Is this the same person who invited Joan Burton to the An Cosan graduations despite objections from pupils?
Do you think she is an undercover Isi agent ?
She did expose Joan to water bombs – and we all know how precious water is in this water soaked isle !
62 NEXT BIRTHDAY !
…appointed by Enda Kenny on the recommendation of Eamon Gilmore….FFS! Imagine having that on your cv.
Can’t wait to see that attention seeker lose.She’s like Power, gets far to much attention for an UNELECTED official.
Tough ward to get elected in.
SF will be going for 2 seats and Paul Murphy is a shoe in after the Guards gave him a boost earlier in the year. He was in either way though.
Tough fight for that 4th seat.
Paul Murphy should run with a second candidate -
How she got in to the seanad says it all for me.
@ John:
IIRC that constituency will be a 5 seater for the next election.
If you are homeless where does your polling card go ?
Does King Redaction have a vote in Ireland or Malta ?
See.
I warned ye to abolish the Seanad.
You wouldn’t listen.
Now look.
Like so many in Irish political office currently she came to public prominence through ‘gay’ issues.
Most of these one dimensional officials are facing extinction now, wandering in the wilderness with little or no appeal for the electorate.
We need more rounded public representatives if this country is to move forward…in my opinion.
The public are tired of the Rainbow drum.
C.I.A. …?????
doesn’t even understand what the Seanad referendum meant and that is proven by her proposed Seanad reforms …..
I don’t imagine this lady will ever be elected to public office. What is her real record?
It’s more impressive than Paul Murphy’s.
SENATOR KATHERINE ZAPPONE – this is what’s wrong with the Country we need people that are vote into the Dail to work for all the PEOPLE NOT JUST LOCAL POLITICS AS USUSL!! Bring Home the Bacon for Everyone in the Country!
I’ll vote for someone who wants to work for my community over an attention seeker like Zappone who “proposed to her partner, Ann Louise Gilligan, live on television” even though she’s already married.
Do you live in Dublin South-West? Do you actually know what she does for her constituency? Katherine Zappone has worked on many issues for the people who are in the most desperate circumstances and if she can use her high profile to good effect then I say ‘Go for it’! ( And she worked damn hard both before and during the campaign – she deserved her moment of joy.)
You can take off your LGBT glasses Helen now the referendum is over, much like Zappone’s political career.
Her smile at the end of the Gif is as false as any of Endas …
She’d join Labour if it wasn’t suicide.
She’s an independent with very aligned thinking.
Wouldn’t get my vote.
I was also part of Yes Equality Dub Sth West., Katherine has done a lot for the people of Tallaght. She together wit Ann-Louise set up An Cosan to help educate the youth of Tallaght. She is a hard working, dedicated and decent woman. I’ll be knocking on doors for her in 2016.
Never heard of her before today.
What is her stance on her native country’s occupation of Shannon airport – as some might put it ?
Hermes, how often have the Canadian military landed in Shannon? I wasn’t aware they had…
they were disguised as being born in Washington State, Canada …MY APOLOGIES …..
Washington State isn’t in Canada. Ann-Louise is from Kerry. I’m not sure where you got the facts but is suspect you didn’t at all, you’re my just making terribly illinformed assumptions.
Ailbhe – Hermes is right, because Katherine was born in Seattle, Washington USA. She and Ann Louise married in Canada. Katherine is now an Irish citizen. Hermes, I have no idea what Senator Zappone thinks about rendition flights but it is a fair question.
Thank you Helen …. would it not be correct to say that she holds dual citizenship – being born in the States and all ?
If she has revoked her American citizenship then she is as welcome to run here as any other Irish person is the way I look at it as indeed does the founding legal document of the State – the Irish Constitution ….
#research Ailbhe – research !
Terribly illinformed?
One pudding, too much egg.
Un oueuf is un oueuf.
* damn you autocorrect!
I was part of Senator Zappone’s canvassing team in Dublin South-West during the referendum. Our team was on of the first to canvass and she was with us from the beginning (in a snowstorm in late February! , knocking on doors to elicit the Yes vote. I saw how well-respected she is in the constituency and how devoted she is to social justice not only in Tallaght but with groups throughout the country. So now that Katherine has declared her candidacy, I had better polish up my walking shoes!
I hate canvassers , not personally of course , but its just that they seem to think that someone cannot think for themselves – and that has come from the experience of doing a canvass as a favour for a friend …..
but work away – freedom of expression and all that – and good luck with the weather !
B.T.W. – are you on her payroll as a secretary or anything – just to be transparent …
what else has she campaigned with such commitment on before? which other campaigns has she put so much effort into other than one which, if you take a step back from, was of her own personal interest to be so interested in! you should not be elected based on your views on one referendum. but on the strength of your policies and ability to influence positive change
Hermes – no, I definitely don’t work for Katherine! I work in a hospital, and the referendum was the first time I have ever been involved in anything political. I can understand your reservations regarding canvassers but on one of the first nights out I met a woman who was surprised that we were out in February, but thanked us for the visit. She told me that the people she is more likely to vote for are the ones who make time to go door-to-door because it shows their commitment to the area.
cool Helen and thanks for the honesty – what is her position on the state of the HSE MESS ?
Best of luck to her hope she gets in she’s a brilliant lady
What has she done.
She proposed to her partner live on air on the day of the referendum, even though they’re already married.
Pointless so.
She is legally married in another state, not this state. They will now have to register their marriage in Ireland as they previously only had a civil partnership.
Claimed a lot of taxpayer funded expenses with mandate .
No mandate.
Her work on the yes campaign is why I like her. She didn’t have to stand up for a minority of our society but she did!
Well robert the majority stood up for the minority so what makes her so special.
Zappone is a self confessed radical feminist. imagine having that on your cv. horrible excuse for a human being.
So 3 people need to Google the term “radical feminist”. Start with their views of transgender folks.
What is the opposite to “live and let live ” Jake ?
A horrible excuse for a human being? Is that because of her self description or has she done something to deserve that, like genocide or something?
She’s looking for a seat on the real gravy train ,let her stand , she won’t
get elected .
stay independent and shout about anti austerity might be a good way to get elected, but it’s of no use to making the country better. If they really wanted to help ireland they would set up a party and come up with real policies
If the Government knew from the polls that the Marriage referendum was going to be passed then why wasn’t the legislation written beforehand and ready to be voted in straight away – or indeed why wasn’t it prepared for debate before the referendum ?
I voted Yes – but these are the jokers that want more efficiency in the public service ….
why should people have to wait for months before they can get married after the people decided we are equal ?
The legislation was written before hand but it has to go through some final stages before it is debated. The government also have other obligation, like the farce that is Irish Water to deal with. Minister Fitzgerald has said it is a priority to have legal marriages between same sex couples by the end of the summer. We will just have to wait and see if she is true to her ward.
Hermes,
It hasn’t been made law yet because at least one of the jokers who attempted the challenge the referendum result in the High Court is now looking for an appeal. The government can’t even table the legislation until the case is dismissed and the certificate verifying the result is issued.
It’s a ludicrous waste of time and public money but it has to be entertained.
Thanks for the info. Dawes – but is it more a case of entertaining the pink vote until closer to the election with a delay ….
besides where does it say that legislation cannot be passed due to a high court challenge / It can be amended afterwards ….
Not disagreeing with your point …
Do you really think that NOT legislating as they are obligated to is entertaining the ‘pink vote’? I think it serves to annoy 62% of the country.
I get your point Ailbhe … but won’t it be great P.R. in the run up to a snap election – “look at me at a gay wedding ” kindathing ….
What took them 4 bloody years is the real question – it could have been ran years ago – the delay nearly made me vote No – just to sicken them as it doesn’t affect me personally – but that would just be thick so I voted Yes anyway ..
It’s like the pictures with children and they introducing budgets hand over fist from Germany that directly attack families while children become homeless – and all the hooha about a children’s referendum !
Hermes,
I’m not exactly sure where it is written but I know from previous challenges that the certificate verifying the result cannot be issued until the challenges are dismissed. Without the cert, the constitution cannot be amended, and until the constitution is amended the law cannot be changed (hence the need for the referendum in the first place!). The Children’s Referendum Bill was only signed into law 865 days after the vote, owing to Joanna Jordan’s persistent but ultimately unsuccessful challenge.
I would not envisage such a lengthy delay in this case, owing to the weakness of the challenge and the fact that there was no unlawful activity proven – or even alleged – before the vote (unlike in previous referenda). I would think, however, that it would be virtually impossible for the legislation to be enacted before the summer recess, given that the appeal isn’t due to be heard for another week or two. It will be autumn at the earliest before it can be tabled.
Democracy really is a strange thing: an electorate can pass an amendment with almost half a million votes to spare, and yet one person – with more money than sense – can walk into a court room and delay the measure for God knows how long by persistently seeking appeals and adjournments. Churchill may have been right – democracy really is the worst form of government, except for all the others.
judges have too much power and it is all linked back to the Taoisigh that appoint them – we don’t live in a democracy Dawes ….thanks for the post – time to get judicial on judges and glorified leader’s asses I think !
Ah – smack za pony!
not one vote.fg labour supporter at heart.
So no 3 legged race for her???
This was obvious given the posters that were up. Thought it a bit much tbh. Wouldn’t take from her work in the campaign. She would be an articulate voice in the Dail and would have been an asset to a putative new party.
In that photo is she saying that it was this big,
The percentage of the yes vote?
so much for loyalty
have your say