Jim Walsh (Fianna Fail)

I take Senator Regan's point, which the Minister mentioned, that the power to revoke the order exists. If that is the conventional view on this, that is fair enough. However, should a future Minister have the courage to revoke the order he will no doubt be excoriated in the press for doing so, given that the Press Council is the product of the media. That is why a statutory review term would take it out of that area. I take the Minister's point that one could be seen to be interfering.

What about a review of the Press Council? We may all form different opinions based on one or two cases but there should be a system of evaluating how it is progressing so that it could be debated. If we give legislative force to a body that has been established, it is right that it be accountable. Perhaps it will be accountable to some of our joint Oireachtas committees, I do not know. I would hate to think we are setting loose a body established outside the Houses and giving it statutory recognition which it will continue to enjoy. I will not say it will enjoy it with impunity because that section on revoking it puts a brake on it.

I would welcome the introduction of the Privacy Bill, which was initially envisaged as part of this process. People have an entitlement which is not recognised or respected by many in the media. As Senator Callely said, there are many fine people in the profession but many are driven by sales and circulation, and that reduces standards.