asked the Minister for Industry, Commerce and Energy whether he has any plans to control by legislation concentrations of Press ownership.

23.

asked the Minister for Industry, Commerce and Energy if, in the light of the tendency towards the concentration of newspaper owner-ship, he will, in the public interest, to safeguard the freedom of the Press and preserve the element of competition, introduce appropriate legislation as soon as possible.

With the permission of the Ceann Comhairle, I propose to take Questions Nos. 22 and 23 together.

I am at present considering measures which would provide for the control of concentrations in general. I expect to have a Bill on these lines ready for consideration by the Oireachtas in the near future.

Is the Department to which the Minister is attached specifically monitoring recent developments in the newspaper industry in the capital and in the provinces with a view to ascertaining whether the growing concentration of ownership poses a threat to genuine freedom of expression?

All recent developments regarding concentrations are being monitored by my Department, and a Bill controlling all these types of concentrations will I hope be laid before the House in the next session.

Are the Government concerned about a trend towards consolidation of ownerships of the media in the country?

If that was to the detriment of the freedom of the Press the Government would be concerned.