The National Union of Journalists last night urged the Minister for Justice not to proceed with the new privacy Bill and to allow the proposed press council to function in the absence of privacy legislation for a two- to three-year period.
The union warned that the privacy Bill published this week would "seriously damage" the freedom of the media and negate the reforms promised in the newly published defamation Bill.
Following a meeting of the Irish Executive Council yesterday, the NUJ decided to commission a study of the proposed legislation prior to holding a conference in September.
Séamus Dooley, secretary of the NUJ, said the establishment of a press council would address "the real and legitimate concerns relating to invasions of privacy in Ireland" and should be allowed to function for two to three years in the absence of privacy legislation.
Recognising that public figures have a right to a private space and that elements of the media have been guilty of "serious transgressions", Mr Dooley added that many of these transgressions could not be justified on grounds other than prurience and could never be defended on the grounds of public interest.
"In seeking to address such transgressions the Minister has produced a Bill which could undermine the ability of the media to function," he said.
"The chill effect of the injunctive powers and the right to seize material would undoubtedly impede legitimate journalistic investigation and, in particular, act as a disincentive to whistleblowers."
Although the privacy Bill makes provision for "an act of news gathering" as a defence, the union concluded that journalists would be concerned at how a court might determine whether some investigations are a "subject of public importance".
The defamation Bill was broadly welcomed by Mr Dooley as a piece of legislation which would serve the public interest.