Ivana Bacik (Independent) | Oireachtas source

I appreciate Senator Ó Clochartaigh's concern on this and I said earlier that representations have been made to me by members of the legal profession acting for children or guardians ad litem and who are concerned about press access. We must strike a careful balance in terms of allowing scrutiny by the public of such proceedings while ensuring there is protection for the rights of the children concerned in particular. I share the Minister's view, however, that it would not be appropriate or in line with general press freedom to have an accreditation process for bona fide representatives of the press. My concern is that interest groups would masquerade as press seeking to come into a courtroom to report. In such an instance, I would be confident a judge could make a judgment and exclude those who are not bona fide representatives such as the nosy neighbour or someone from an interest group with a particular ideological viewpoint on the conduct of family proceedings. I share that sort of concern but I do not see another way of dealing with it other than the way we set out in the original Bill that there would be bona fide representatives of the press and the judges must decide who they are. I said earlier there is a real concern in courts in small towns outside of Dublin that identifying material would be published. Against that, a judge of the District or Circuit Court in a small town will know who is a bona fide press representative in that town. It is a valid concern but this is the only way to deal with. The amendment is certainly not the appropriate way to address the issue.