Privacy law moves may be abandoned, says Lenihan

MOVES to bring in sweeping new privacy laws may be abandoned if newspapers prove they can police themselves, Justice Minister Brian Lenihan last night insisted.

Mr Lenihan said he wanted to see how the new Press Council watchdog operates before deciding whether to introduce a controversial Privacy Bill. The minister said he would move ahead with defamation reforms which have generally been welcomed by the media, despite Cabinet colleagues wanting privacy laws introduced at the same time.

“In relation to the Privacy Bill, I would be prepared to give media organisations some time to show that the Press Council can work and demonstrate its effectiveness,” he told RTÉ’s The Week In Politics.