McDowell to get green light on tough privacy laws
The controversial protection measures were demanded by senior Fianna Fáil ministers as part of a major libel reform package.
Fine Gael justice spokesman Jim O’Keeffe last night insisted the move must be in the public interest and not driven by “internal rumblings” in the Government.
Labour also warned against “shackling” the media so ministers could get revenge for past press treatment.
Fianna Fáil Cabinet members pressed Mr McDowell to introduce the privacy measures as a counter weight to granting the media more freedom on defamation.
The matter came to a head last May when Finance Minister Brian Cowen, Foreign Affairs Minister Dermot Ahern and Transport Minister Martin Cullen are believed to have pushed strongly for action on the matter in the wake of the “Monicagate” controversy.
Mr Cullen was particularly angry at what he believed to be breaches of his family’s privacy during press inquiries after it emerged a political associate, Monica Leech, had been awarded €300,000 in consultancy contracts by Government departments.
Mr O’Keeffe said he was waiting to see “the colour of Mr McDowell’s money” on the issue, but stressed the legislation could not be one-sided.
“I know there have been internal rumblings on this matter in the Government.
“Mr McDowell has come under pressure from colleagues in the Cabinet on this. The proposals must be balanced,” he said.
The concern was echoed by Labour’s justice spokesman Joe Costello.
“It would be very undesirable if proposals were brought forward aimed at just satisfying the concerns of some ministers who believe there should be shackles on the media due to what they regard as the bad experiences they have endured,” he said.
The “carrot and stick” approach adopted by Mr McDowell will also include a new press council to act as a watchdog for the media.
“I will be bringing to Government in the near future a report on privacy, a proposal for privacy legislation, and the defamation bill,” he said.
The Justice Minister confirmed the proposals will recommend recognising, in Irish law, a landmark European Court of Human Rights ruling on a case brought by Princess Caroline of Monaco.
The court found two German magazines had breached the princess’s privacy by publishing photos taken of her and a male friend in a French café.
The defamation bill will include a “statute-based press council” with powers to regulate media outlets which sign up to it.
