Ministers to have power over media mergers

The Government has agreed new powers which will allow a minister determine whether proposed media mergers are in the public interest in terms of diversity in the sector.

New regulations-brought to Cabinet this week will mean notification must be given of proposed mergers and that there will be new protections for the Irish language.

However, trade unions have said the move is too late, while journalist representatives highlighted the control held by media tycoon Denis O’Brien through his firm Communicorp.