McDowell denies privacy law will ‘muzzle’ media
Mr McDowell insisted the proposed measures were needed to protect the rights of ordinary people and were not a charter for the rich and famous.
The minister also denied the moves would curtail investigative journalism as news organisations would be able to claim a form of “public interest” defence.
The proposed laws will grant greater privacy rights to household names, even in public places, and go in tandem with reform of defamation legislation and the creation of a press council which will be set up — but not operated — on a statutory basis.
Fine Gael justice spokesman Jim O’Keefe called for the Government to withdraw the legislation.
“This is an attempt to muzzle the media. Will this be of any benefit to the Irish people? I don’t think so.
“Mr McDowell gave into pressure from Fianna Fáil colleagues in Cabinet who wanted to curtail the press.
“I fully support the updating of the laws of libel, but there is no need for a privacy law.
“That is not to say the press is perfect, of course. We need a press council and we need a clear complaints system for people to follow if they feel their rights have been infringed,” Mr O’Keeffe said.
The Press Industry Steering Committee (PISC), which has been in discussion with Mr McDowell on how a press council could operate in Ireland, has welcomed the Defamation Bill, but stated privacy issues should be handled by the new body and not legislation.
The National Union of Journalists has also warned that investigations into wrong-doing will be severely hampered by the privacy legislation.
