Press Council: A schedule to the Defamation Bill spells out the conditions a press council must meet in order to receive recognition from the Minister, subject to resolution of both Houses of the Oireachtas.
The press council will appoint a press ombudsman and will hear complaints from the public both in relation to inaccurate or damaging reporting and to violations of privacy.
The schedule specifies that the press council must be a company limited by guarantee, and therefore have specific objects under company law.
These must be:
- to ensure the protection of the freedom of expression of the press;
- to protect the public interest by ensuring ethical, accurate and truthful reporting by the press;
- to maintain certain minimum ethical and professional standards among the press; and
- to ensure that the privacy and dignity of the individual are protected.
The schedule also states that the press council shall be independent, and the owner of any periodical can be a member of it. However, it is stipulated that the number of directors shall be 13, of whom a majority, seven, shall represent the public interest.
Of the remaining six, five will represent owners and one will represent journalists.
One of the public interest directors will chair the council.
It also lays down the manner in which the public service directors are appointed, by a panel that is independent of media interests, and following a public and transparent selection process.
It will be funded by subscriptions from its member organisations.
The schedule also outlines how complaints should be dealt with, starting with informal resolution between the complainant and the organisation complained of.
If this fails, the press ombudsman will determine the matter.
The remedies that then follow include:
- the publication of the decision of the ombudsman by the organisation complained of;
- the publication of a correction of inaccurate facts or information, given due prominence;
- the publication of a retraction, or any other action the ombudsman may require.
His decision can be appealed to the press council as a whole, according to the schedule. It also provides for the drawing up of a code to which all members will have to adhere.
This will contain rules and standards to ensure accuracy where a person's reputation is involved and to ensure that people's privacy, integrity and dignity are protected.