Pádraig Mac Lochlainn (Donegal North East, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I move amendment No. 1:

In page 9, between lines 28 and 29, to insert the following:“(b) Subject to paragraph (b), no more than one bona fide representative of the Press shall attend proceedings to which the relevant enactment relates.

(c) The court will retain discretion as to the relevant and appropriate bona fide representative of the press to where more than one applies to attend.”.

The schedule was changed and the Sinn Féin Whip's office does not appear to have been aware of it. Therefore, I am at a little disadvantage in trying to get my papers together at the last minute. I thank the Minister for agreeing to the suspension.

Amendment No. 1 reflects the concern expressed by the Ombudsman for Children. She outlined the concern that one might have a number of bona fide representatives of the media present at a family court hearing and although all media representatives would aim to comply with the requirements, the combination of the separate reportage of the case might serve to identify the parties to the court hearing. The amendment proposes that there would be just one bona fide representative of the press at any family court hearing.

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