Will the Leader request the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment to-----

I am sorry, a Chathaoirligh, but Senator Leyden must be having the same problem with the machinery.

I am sorry. Somehow, the microphones are not as good as they were in the old Seanad.

The Leader is getting very old.

Senator Norris is getting old himself.

Will the Leader ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment to approve the acquisition of Sappho Limited from Landmark Media Investments by The Irish Times DAC? The proposed acquisition of the Irish Examiner includes the Evening Echo, the Roscommon Herald, the Western People, the Waterford News and Star, the Laois Nationalist, the Kildare Nationalist, the Carlow Nationalist and three radio stations. The Competition and Consumer Protection Commission, CCPC, stated that it had cleared the deal following an extensive phase 2 investigation. Under media merger rules, the Minister, Deputy Naughten, must now make a separate assessment of any impact that the deal will have on media plurality. The Irish Times DAC has secured clearance from the Broadcasting Authority of Ireland, BAI, which licenses radio stations.

I will declare a personal interest, that being, the survival of excellent local newspapers like the Roscommon Herald, the Western People and so on in this highly competitive industry.

Hear, hear.

The Irish Times is an honourable newspaper. It will look after the interests of regional newspapers well and allow them editorial independence and responsibility.

That the Government did not make a decision on the proposed takeover by Independent News & Media, INM, of Celtic Media was a major error, in that it could have put those local newspapers in jeopardy. I call on the Minister to be decisive and approve the deal. He should not allow this to linger. He should not be scared by the reaction to the non-decision on INM and Celtic Media. Grasp the nettle, do not let the horse bolt, make a decision and be decisive. Do not be concerned about criticism from any party. Get the file. It is either "Yes" or "No", but do not wait for two or three months, by which time The Irish Times might have decided to pull out of the deal. That is the danger.

My general impression of this Government is that it is indecisive. It has no strong decision makers from the Taoiseach down. That will be the path it will burn on eventually. Its indecisiveness is evident in the appointment of Ministers of State, which is a strange situation. Ministers of State rotating in that manner never happened before in the history of the State. It was not a good idea.