National Union of Journalists

Lobbying Organisation National Union of Journalists

Date published 02 Jan, 2020

Relevant Matter Public policy or programme

Public Policy Area Communications

Period 1 Sep, 2019 to 31 Dec, 2019

Specific Details Acquisiton of Midland/Tullamore Tribune newspapers by Iconic Newspapers. Request to Minister to use powers under Competiton Act followed by request for clarificaiton of decison not to do so.

Intended results Referral of proposed acqusition by the Minister for Communications for panel investigation with view to protecting editorial independence, ethos and staff of titles in context of acquisiiton by domination media owner in Midlands/Mid West region.

Name of person primarily responsible for lobbying on this activity Seamus Dooley

Did any Designated Public Official(DPO) or former Designated Public Official(DPO) carry out lobbying activities on your behalf in relation to this return? You must include yourself, and answer Yes, if you are a current DPO or a DPO at any time in the past. (What is a Designated Public Official?) No

Did you manage or direct a grassroots campaign? No

Was this lobbying done on behalf of a client? No

Lobbying activity

The following activities occurred for this specific Subject Matter Area.

Letter (2-5)

Letter to Mr Richard Bruton TD Minister for CommunicatiIons, Climate Action an Environment reminding him of his power to refer proposal acqusiitons which posed a threat to media diverity and plurlarity for investigation under specfic criteria set out in legislation. No reply was received. Minister approved acqusiiton. Follow up letter was sent seeking clarificaiton of decision. No reply was received.

Designated public officials lobbied

The following DPOs were lobbied during this return period on this specific Subject Matter Area. These DPOs were involved in at least one of the Lobbying Activities listed above, but not necessarily all of them. As returns are specific to a Subject Matter Area the above Lobbying Activities may be associated with multiple returns.

Richard Bruton Minister (Department of Environment, Climate and Communications)