Communications Minister Denis Naughten should remove himself from any media merger decisions unless he issues a public statement accepting he was wrong to discuss Independent News and Media’s (INM) bid for Celtic Media with a lobbyist.

Minister for Rural and Community Development, Michael Ring, has offered his “full support” for Communications Minister Denis Naughton.

Communications Minister Denis Naughten will not be forced from office by Taoiseach Leo Varadkar or Fianna Fáil, despite facing accusations of giving out “inside information” over a media deal.

Communications Minister Denis Naughten has been accused of “misleading” the Dáil and of inappropriately divulging information to a PR lobbyist over a media takeover involving Independent News and Media.

Communications Minister Denis Naughten will take questions in the Dáil today over his contact with a PR agency over the proposed take over of Celtic Media by Independent News and Media (INM).