Sheila Terry (Fine Gael)

I will endeavour to provide that reference for the Minister. When the report was published and with reference to the recommendation that a statutory press council be established, the Minister stated:

On the one hand, there is a need to achieve a form of regulation which is effective and in which the public can have confidence. On the other hand, care must be had to ensure that any regulatory framework does not trespass needlessly upon the traditional freedoms which the press enjoys in all democratic societies.

It is inconceivable that having spoken of traditional press freedoms and democratic societies, the Minister in the same breath advocated the establishment of a Government-appointed press council.