OH YES, I SPOKE TO CHAIRMAN OF INM, TOO

DENIS Naughten elicited grimaces from Government colleagues when he revealed in the Dáil yesterday that he also spoke to then-INM chairman Leslie Buckley while a watchdog was considering the legitimacy of the company’s bid for even greater media dominance.

The discussions took place in May last year – yet the Broadcasting Authority of Ireland did not rule until June on whether the proposed INM takeover of Celtic Media Group should be blocked on competition and plurality grounds.

Mr Buckley is at the centre of controversy over the current attempt by the Office of the Director of Corporate Enforcement to have inspectors appointed to INM.

INM has said Mr Buckley was responsible for a back-up file of staff emails – potentially millions of them, and possibly involving thousands of staff – being taken out of the jurisdiction for interrogation. The bill for that exercise was paid by Blaydon, an Isle of Man company allegedly controlled by Denis O’Brien.

The ODCE has repeatedly cited communications involving Mr Buckley, Mr O’Brien’s nominee and key ally on the INM board, in its reasons for wanting to inspect the company.

But Mr Naughten says his discussions with Mr Buckley amounted to just ‘small talk’.

INM pulled out of the deal to buy Celtic Media Group just days before the BAI’s final report. Mr Naughten met Mr Buckley at a conference organised by INM.

When Mick Barry TD asked whether it is ‘entirely credible that a conversation between the Minister and a senior executive of INM at that stage in the process would simply be confined to small talk?’

Mr Naughten said: ‘I don’t recall him raising the issue.’