McDowell to get green light on tough privacy laws

TOUGH new privacy laws to shield politicians and other household names , even when they are in some public places, are likely to secure Cabinet approval by Easter, Justice Minister Micheal McDowell yesterday signalled.

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.