Seanad debates

Wednesday, 10 December 2003

Report on Dublin and Monaghan Bombings: Motion. - Defamation: Statements.

 

I believe in a press council and there is nothing inconsistent between giving it a statutory background and independence. After all, the General Medical Council and other organisations work within a statutory framework. The important aspect is independence, particularly in terms of an ombudsman, and that requires privilege of some sort. The people in this area should be encouraged to produce their own codes of conduct based on the best journalistic, sub-editing and editing standards. We have a better chance of getting compliance with that than something that is imposed. I agree with the Minister that we cannot legislate for taste and it is a mistake to try to do so. We have had sad experiences of censorship to which nobody would want to return. I congratulate the Minister on the approach he is taking. Having a public debate is vitally important and I agree with him that in political terms, issues are bundled and it is not possible to unbundle them.

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