The Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment rejected a claim by a Sinn Féin TD that Independent Newspapers was abusing its dominant position in the Irish media.
Mr Arthur Morgan (Louth) said that in no other area of Irish business was there a situation to match "that of the tax exile, Tony O'Reilly" and his almost complete domination of the newspaper market.
"For example, Independent News and Media plc owns 67 per cent of Irish daily newspapers and almost 87 per cent of Irish Sunday newspapers," he added.
"Is there a commitment from the Government to deal with abuses of market power in the newspaper industry? Does the Minister agree that the media monopoly operated by Independent News and Media plc involves an abuse of its dominant position and in which it can influence the political process? This was alluded to in the Moriarty tribunal."
Mr Martin said he did not accept the "broad thrust" of Mr Morgan's argument. "If anything has happened since 1995, it has been a broad proliferation of new companies emerging in the Irish media scene in both broadcasting and the print media and more publications are now produced," he added.
"I can understand the deputy may have concerns from his point of view in light of the current trends and perhaps the particular newspaper's coverage of the deputy's party's activities." Mr Morgan replied: "I can take that. It is not a problem."
Mr Martin said that the Competition Authority was there to advise on issues pertaining to competition law. "In terms of the media, the legislation provides for my role as Minister," said Mr Martin. "Any comments or recommendations by the Competition Authority are considered as it is best placed to examine and research these matters."
Mr Morgan said he was referring to the broad political process and what came out of the Moriarty tribunal, not in respect of his party, where a particular newspaper threatened the then Rainbow government if it did not behave itself. He added that on the day of the election, the newspaper published on its front page a request to its readers not to vote for that government. "That is what I mean by distortion of the political process."
Mr Martin said that Mr Morgan's concern for the Rainbow government was touching and was noted. "The Department has no plans on the matter."
