Sheila Terry (Fine Gael)

I will confirm that to the Minister later. Fine Gael believes that this press council should set about developing appropriate codes of practice. It should appoint a press ombudsman who would be fully independent with full security of tenure and have a properly funded office with the remit of enforcing codes of practice developed by the press council. While Fine Gael believes that the ombudsman will require some statutory underpinning so that he or she can carry out his role effectively, the party does not support the concept of a press council which is statutorily appointed by the Minister. Such a series of appointments would leave the press council wide open to political interference and that is not acceptable.

Fine Gael does not dispute that some parts of the media are capable of being reckless with regard to facts and to the reputation of individuals. There is a growing realisation of the need for some accountability and regulation of the press. However, given the vital importance of the free press in a democratic society, great care and sensitivity has to be exercised in defining the rules governing this industry. There is a general consensus that the currently unregulated environment in which the press operates is no longer sustainable. An effective and efficient mechanism for regulating the press and for allowing legitimate complaints to be dealt with must be instituted. We must be equally careful that we do not introduce a system that militates against the vital role played by the free press in a democratic society. For this reason, Fine Gael believes that an independent press complaints system with some statutory underpinning represents the best way forward.