Ireland's planned new privacy laws were criticised today by press councils across Europe which claimed the strict rules would undermine self-regulation of newspapers.
In an unusual step, media groups from 20 countries joined forces in claiming the proposed legislation would deny the Press the opportunity to promote high journalistic standards.
The Alliance of Independent Press Councils of Europe insisted that giving a press council statutory recognition was far from the norm.
"Representatives of Press Councils and media organisations from 20 countries were concerned to hear that efforts to create a self-regulatory press council in Ireland may be thwarted by proposed new privacy legislation," the group said in a statement.
The Privacy Bill was published in tandem with reforms on defamation laws in July. Justice Minister Michael McDowell said it was designed to protect all citizens from invasion of privacy while recognising the vital and necessary role of bona fide news-gathering.
Rather than allow for a voluntary press council, run by the industry, the Bill provides for an independent council with statutory recognition.
But Mr McDowell has insisted it was not designed to create a Government-appointed press council.
The watchdog will be made up mainly of members of the public. It will have 13 directors - seven representing the public, five representing owners and publishers and one representing journalists. Members will be selected by a panel independent of Government.
An Ombudsman will be appointed to investigate complaints. Remedial action where complaints are upheld will include the publication of the Ombudsman's decisions, corrections of inaccurate facts, retractions or other appropriate action.
A specific offence of violating an individual's privacy is also being created.
But the draft legislation, due to be passed through Dail Eireann in the autumn, has also been criticised by legal experts.
Andrea Martin, a solicitor in media law, told a conference in Dublin at the weekend that the Bill was badly thought out, poorly drafted and would bring uncertainty to civil law.
She said it could threaten legitimate current affairs investigations. Ms Martin also said privacy law had been developing in a considered manner through the courts and should be allowed to continue to do so, supplemented by the deliberations and decisions of a vibrant and engaged press council.