TD denies giving away ‘inside information’ on media takeover

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.

The Independent minister admitted he told the PR official for INM he was “likely” to refer the company’s takeover of Celtic Media to the Broadcasting Authority of Ireland (BAI). But this was two months before the decision went public. The minister said this had been his “personal” opinion.

Opposition-party TDs quizzed Mr Naughten about the issue yesterday in the Dáil.