Legislation has been promised for some time on the transfer of responsibility for diversity of media ownership, including mergers and acquisitions, from the Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation to the Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources. Can the Taoiseach update us on the status of that? When he is doing so he might also tell us a little bit about the axis of disagreement that exists between himself and the Labour Party on the issue.

I answered a question on this matter recently. The Office of the Parliamentary Counsel provided revised drafts of the Bill relating to the amalgamation of the NCA and the Competition Authority on 28 June. It also sent a memorandum to the Department on a number of legal issues on 21 June. A response to most of the issues raised was sent back to the Parliamentary Counsel on 8 July. On the media and mergers provision, the Parliamentary Counsel raised a series of detailed questions on 25 June. These are being considered by the Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation and the Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources. While the Bill is at a very advanced stage, publication will not happen before the Dáil rises for the summer recess and that is because of the very detailed nature of the questions which came back.

Is it likely that it will be published before the beginning of the next session?

I cannot answer that question. I would hope so. It was intended that this would be published before the House rises. The range of the-----

Is it a priority for the Government?

I know that.

I am asking whether it is a priority.

The Bill is at a very advanced stage. The specific and detailed questions that came back have to be answered.

Is it a priority?

Yes.