On Tuesday this week I supported the call by the Deputy Leader, Senator Ivana Bacik, to have, at the earliest possible opportunity, a debate on the media and media ownership in the context of what we expected to be reported from the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources, Deputy Alex White. I understand the Minister yesterday launched some type of policy guide or initiative. I repeat the need to have an urgent debate on media ownership and the desirability of having a balance of ownership in Irish media. I do so in the context of the recent pronouncement from the Competition Authority in respect of Ryanair's supposed dominance of the Irish market and the view of the Competition Authority that, from an air travel perspective, competition is not only desirable but necessary. What is good for free trade and free travel should also not only be good but also necessary for the media. The need for a fair and balanced media presentation is vital in our democracy and media ownership is central to that debate.

The disappointing thing about the pronouncement yesterday from the Minister is that any proposal that would stem from his policy document would not be retrospective. This means that not only will current dominance in the media not be challenged but also that it will be literally copperfastened in law. It is some time since the Tánaiste, Deputy Joan Burton, spoke about what she described as the possible Berlusconi media complex in Ireland. At least in the case of Mr. Berlusconi, while he had a particular agenda, he stood for election.