DÁIL PRIVILEGE ROW: Rights body questions legal advice to media over O’Brien gag

RTÉ welcomed the clearance from the High Court yesterday to report Dáil debates concerning billionaire businessman Denis O’Brien, saying it sent out an important message to TDs and the media.

However, the National Union of Journalists (NUJ) said it was regrettable that journalists’ motives in wanting to report what was said in the Dáil had been questioned. The Irish Council of Civil Liberties said it was perplexed that media organisations had been led to believe they were under reporting restrictions and questioned their legal advice.

RTÉ deputy director general Kevin Bakhurst said it had been necessary to go to court to get clarity on the extent of the injunction.