The Irish Independent reports that the Privacy Bill 2006 is on hold, for the time being.

Justice Minister Brian Lenihan said on RTE’s The Week In Politics

“In relation to the Privacy Bill, I would be prepared to give media organisations some time to show that the Press Council can work and demonstrate its effectiveness,”

Minister Lenihan is referring to the recent establishment of the office of the Press Ombudsman, under the self regulatory framewokd of the Press Council. The Press Ombudsman, John Horgan, has indicated that he will be open for business from the start of the new year 2008.

Listen to the D’Mediators podcast for an interview with John Horgan and a panel discussion with press representatives about the new self regulatory structures for the Irish press industry.

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Dr. John Horgan has been announced (14.AUG.2007) as Ireland’s first Press Ombudsman.

The Press Council’s press release statement can be viewed here.

“The key function of the new Press Ombudsman will be to investigate and adjudicate complaints made by members of the public against newspapers and magazines. A new Code of Practice has been agreed by the press industry,and this code will be the framework against which all complaints are considered.”

The Irish Times reference the appointment here (subscription rqd).
Breaking News.ie have a note here as does the Irish Independent, the Belfast Telegraph and RTÉ.ie.

John is a co-editor of a newly published book Mapping Irish Media: Critical Explorations. He has also authored Broadcasting and Public Life:RTE News and Current Affairs, 1926-1997(2004) and Irish Media: A Critical History Since 1922 (2001).

John’s other publishing career can be viewed on wikipedia.org.

John’s academic biographical profile from DCU can still be viewed here (John has retired from DCU since 2006).

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Sunday Business Post’s John Burke gives a refreshing inside angle on the attacks and defences of press freedom.

See the article here on sbpost.iemovies funny sexygang moviesmovies player for gay media windowsfree movies gay rimmingtasting movies juices own their girlsreview movie glorylesbian hardcore moviesporno movies hardcoreforum movie hegremovies hidden sexcelebrity movies funny ebaumsworld jokesblowjob free moviesclips movie lesbian freelesbian best moviemovies teeniemovie sex scenesmovies handjobsex hilton paris movie Map

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could this impact on irish media?

bbc.co.uk have an article on this speech by Tony Blair. There’s a video extract there also.

MediaForum’s question is this; How will this British call for more regulation impact on our current situation regarding the Privacy and Defamation Bills before the Orieachtas, particularly in light of the absence of Michael McDowell as the Minister responsible?

Irish journalism had been looking for defamation reform, without the Privacy Bill (on the basis that the constitutional provisions for privacy protection were adequate enough). We are now getting a Press Council and Press Ombudsman. Would a new Fianna Fail Minister for Justice push through the Privacy Bill also?

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Some of the documents you’d need to access about the Defamation Bill 2006

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Letter to the Editors

Since it is part of the human condition that power corrupts it makes for a healthy democracy to have an alternative government to the one in power available at each election.

The ongoing and relentless campaign of the majority of political correspondents to undermine the possibility of any alternative government to the present being offered in the next election is, therefore, pathetic. This is a fairly widespread campaign. It includes the Independent Group of papers, the so called public service broadcaster RTE, much of commercial radio and TV and some of our former imperial master’s organs of propaganda in this country such as the Daily Mail and the Sun.

This orchestrated campaign is being conducted over many years in order to limit the choice of the electorate of this democratic republic. Its net results are nearly continuous government by one party. Its modus operandi is that the coverage of political affairs is confined to obsequious interviews with the politicians in power. There is a total lack of critical analysis towards the sayings and doings of the powers that be and the fact that they use taxpayer’s money to project their image and make celebrities of themselves. The cultivation of the image of the Taoiseach is all pervading. This includes many flattering photographs, soft interviews on his doings and his family’s connection with the celebrity circuit and nearly limitless access to public service radio and TV. Most importantly this campaign is totally dedicated to the destruction of the credibility of the leadership of the main opposition parties.

It is a prostitution of the role of the media in a democracy. They are supposed to act as watchdogs by holding those in power to account on behalf of ordinary people. Instead they are deliberately attempting to undermine the democratic right of the electorate to have an alternative government available at election time.

A. Leavy
Sutton
Dublin 13

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Monday’s Muse

There is a wide variety of flavours of Press Councils which have been operating around the world, each with their own paticular codes and structures.

What flavour will the Irish Press Council take?

Irish Press Council, Ombudsman revealed as defamation bill debated in the Seanad

Press Councils

• Australia
• Azerbaidjan
• Belgium (Flemish)
• Bosnia & Herzegovina
• (more…)
  January 15th 2007 Posted to Print, Press Freedom, General Media, journalism

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Noel Dempsey TD, Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources, contemplates contemporary media in a speech entitled; Ensuring Professional Integrity in a Crowded Media.

Chairperson, Ladies and Gentlemen, I would like to thank you for inviting me here, to open today’s event. It is nice for a politician to get an opportunity to deliver a lecture to the press although I am mindful of the maxim that one should not argue with someone who buys ink by the barrel.

Over the next two days, you will hear views from many eminent speakers on one of the cornerstones of the Fourth Estate: Professional Integrity. I am sure it will lead to some very engaging debate.

I want to start on this theme by telling you a story. Friday the Thirteenth of October was the day our Taoiseach came back from St Andrews in Scotland, having achieved what for many decades seemed impossible - agreement among the key parties in the North. It was an historic day. Literally. It was a day that created endless possibilities for generations yet to be born.

Now, on that day, one of my Cabinet colleagues was speaking to the producer of a weekend programme. Working out what topics would be dealt with during that programme. They went through a pretty comprehensive list. Then there was a small pause, while my colleague went through what he’d written down. “I assume,” he said, “that we haven’t mentioned St Andrews and the completion of the Northern talks because that’ll be at the top of the programme.” “Oh, no,” the producer said. “We’re not going near the North at all. Too boring.” My colleague was too stunned to argue. (Which, given the personality of my colleague, was a rare occurrence.)
(more…)

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The World Association of Newspapers and the World Editors Forum have protested to the Irish government against proposed privacy legislation that conflicts with press freedom in Ireland and would “inhibit the way newspapers carry out their legitimate and important function in society.”

“We are seriously concerned that the Privacy Bill poses a significant threat to press freedom and would, if enacted, make unlawful the publication of much material that is clearly in the public interest,” said WAN and the WEF in a letter to the Irish Prime Minister, Bertie Ahern, and Justice Minister Michael McDowell.ringtones 6610iringtones free nokia 3560download theme nokia 6600 game ringtoneringtones verizon free absolutely forringtone free nokia 3210 newnokia 6010 ringtonesfree verizon ringtones phone absolutely2 nokia ringtone for joy Map

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Monday’s Muse.

Is there a window of opportunity for the newspapers publishing in Ireland to work together to set up a self regulatory Press Council, now that there is uncertainty around the Defamation and Privacy Bills?

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