GAVIN O’REILLY took some flak from shareholders of APN News Media in Australia this week in what was his first annual general meeting as chairman of the Independent News & Media subsidiary.

One shareholder, frustrated at the decline in the value of the Sydney-based media group’s share price and aspects of its performance, even suggested that APN needed a chairman based in Australia full time, rather than someone living in Dublin.

O’Reilly responded by reminding shareholders that he is a “proud Australian citizen” and that he has spent 23 or 24 days in the country this year.

“I feel I have been a resident,” he said.

He assured them he was in “daily contact” with the management of APN.

“I take my role and responsibilities as chairman very seriously. Thankfully, God created telephones, faxes and e-mail and all the rest.”