ANY relaunch of the Sunday Press must comply with competition law, the Minister for Enterprise and Employment has said.
Mr Bruton said he had not received a satisfactory reply from Independent Newspapers con any plans it might have in this area. "I have, however, made it very clear to the Press and Independent that competition legislation will be upheld by the State," he added.
He said he had accepted the findings of the Competition Authority which concluded that the agreement involving the acquisition by Independent Newspapers of a 24.9 per cent share in Irish Press and its provision of loans was anti competitive and an abuse of a dominant position. "A continuation of these or similar arrangements into the future would, in my opinion, be unlawful," he added.