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ARTICLE · 02 APRIL 2026

Proposed Changes To Ireland's Media Merger Rules By The Media Regulation Bill

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On 26 February 2026, the Minister for Culture, Communications and Sport (the “Minister”) published the Media Regulation Bill 2026 (the “Media Regulation Bill”). The Media Regulation Bill proposes a number of amendments...

IrelandAntitrust/Competition Law
Diarmaid Gavin
Diarmaid Gavin
Sarah Alexander
Sarah Alexander
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On 26 February 2026, the Minister for Culture, Communications and Sport (the “Minister”) published the Media Regulation Bill 2026  (the “Media Regulation Bill”). The Media Regulation Bill proposes a number of amendments to the Competition Act 2002 (as amended) (the “Competition Act”) in order to implement the main provisions of Regulation (EU) 2024/10831, the European Media Freedom Act (the “EMFA”), in Ireland. If enacted, the Media Regulation Bill will reform the current framework for the assessment of media mergers in Ireland.

The Current Position 

The obligation to notify a media merger arises regardless of whether the standard financial thresholds for merger notification under the Competition Act are triggered.2 Part 3A of the Competition Act sets out the framework governing Ireland's existing media merger regime. Under this framework, a media merger is subject to mandatory notification where both undertakings involved in a transaction carry on a media business and at least

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