Privacy legislation delayed for at least two years

Minister for Justice Brian Lenihan has said new legislation governing privacy rights in Ireland will not be introduced for at least two years.

Mr Lenihan made the announcement during the official launch last night of the Press Council and the Office of the Press Ombudsman.

The new organisations will oversee the print media and give the public an avenue for making complaints without going through the lengthy and expensive courts process.

Minister Lenihan says serious abuses of privacy are taking place in the media, but he wants to give the Ombudsman a chance to improve the situation in conjunction with the media.

If this does not happen, he says, the Government will have to introduce legislation on the matter.