The Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform, Dermot Ahern, is asking the Dáil and Séanad to approve an Order by him declaring the formal recognition of the Press Council of Ireland as the ‘Press Council’.
Mr Ahern said that the application from the Press Council of Ireland under section 44 of the Defamation Act 2009 has been examined with reference to the requirements in Schedule 2 of the Act and that is satisfied that the application meets those requirements.
These involve the objectives of the Press Council, its composition, its independence, the appointment of independent directors, financial arrangements, the role and operation of the Office of Press Ombudsman and a code of standards.
Formal recognition will confer certain benefits on the Press Council. A significant benefit is that qualified privilege will attach to its reports and decisions as well as those of the Press Ombudsman.
Subscription to the Press Council and adherence to the Code of Practice for Newspapers and Periodicals will strengthen the entitlement to avail of the new defence of reasonable publication in any court action.
Also, non-members of the Press Council will be required to have in place an equivalent fairness regime or to operate an equivalent and publicised code of standards to avail of that defence.
This is a positive step in the interests of press standards, ensuring that the reporting of news and accountability in Irish society are common objectives.
