STATUTORY RECOGNITION will strengthen the capacity of the Press Council of Ireland to work effectively, its chairman Prof Thomas Mitchell has said.
He was responding yesterday to an announcement that Minister for Justice Dermot Ahern had signed an order declaring statutory recognition of the council.
“This order represents an important milestone for the Irish print industry,” Mr Ahern said in a statement. “I hope that it will also act as an incentive to all newspapers and periodicals to become member-publications of the Press Council.”
The Press Council of Ireland application for statutory recognition was examined with reference to the requirements of the Defamation Act 2009. These included the objectives of the council, its composition, its independence, appointment of independent directors, financial arrangements, the role and operation of the Office of Press Ombudsman and a code of standards.
Mr Ahern was “satisfied that the application met those requirements”. Formal approval of the draft order by both Houses of the Oireachtas was finalised this week.
A significant benefit, according to the Department of Justice, is that qualified privilege will attach to Press Council 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.
Non-members of the council “will be required . . . to operate an equivalent and publicised code of standards to avail of that defence,” the department said.
“This development will strengthen the council’s capacity to work effectively, and will allow the press industry to participate fully without fear of legal risk,” Prof Mitchell said.
The Press Council was established in 2007. Over 200 titles subscribe to its code through their membership of the council.