McDowell to push on with press council plan

JUSTICE Minister Michael McDowell insisted yesterday that he is pressing ahead with his plans to establish a body to deal with press complaints following controversy over media intrusion into the private lives of public figures.

He told the Cabinet yesterday that he plans to bring forward proposals for the press council very shortly.

The minister has previously indicated that the council would allow disputes over libel claims to be resolved without resort to the courts and that he also intends to amend the libel laws to allow newspapers to publish apologies without them being regarded as an admission of liability.