Reaction: The Press Industry Steering Committee (PISC) yesterday welcomed the publication of the Defamation Bill.
However, it believes that the issue of privacy as it relates to the media would be better dealt with by the Press Council than by legislation.
The PISC was formed in January 2004 to agree a model for the establishment of an independent press council, and it has been involved in consultations with the Minister for Justice towards that end.
"All discussions with the Minister for Justice were based on the premise that a press council could not operate in Ireland without substantial reform of the defamation laws," the PISC said in a statement.
"As such, the PISC welcomes the publication of the Defamation Bill which, when enacted, will pave the way for the establishment of an independent press council.
"On the matter of privacy, the PISC believe that privacy - as it relates to the media - is best dealt with by the press council and not by legislation." The group said the issue of privacy was not part of earlier discussions with the Minister, and it now intends to consider the provisions of the Privacy Bill, which was published alongside the Defamation Bill.
The PISC is an industry group comprising the National Newspapers of Ireland (NNI), the Regional Newspaper Association of Ireland (RNAI), the Periodical Publishers Association of Ireland (PPAI), the National Union of Journalists (NUJ) and the Irish editions of UK titles under the chairmanship of Prof Tom Mitchell.
Separately, the NUJ welcomed the Bill's stipulation that a press council operate independently of Government but with statutory recognition, though it reiterated that media intrusion could be dealt with without a Privacy Bill.
In a statement, Irish secretary Séamus Dooley said: "While we wish to consider the detailed provisions of the Bill we welcome the measures reforming our oppressive libel laws. At long last the libel laws are being reformed and at long last the public will have a forum for seeking redress without incurring high legal costs."