EU study’s concern over media ownership in Ireland

The concentration of media ownership in Ireland has been identified as “high risk” in a major EU study on media diversity.

The EU-funded report identified a number of policy weaknesses which allowed billionaire businessman Denis O’Brien to have a dominant position in Irish media.

He owns 29.9% of the country’s biggest newspaper group, Independent News and Media, and is the principal shareholder in Communicorp which owns two national radio stations, Today FM and Newstalk as well as several local radio stations which account for 20% of the radio market.