Privacy laws - Bill framed to protect the powerful

ANY lingering doubts about the draconian nature of Ireland’s proposed new privacy laws have been scotched as media groups from 20 European countries oppose Justice Minister Michael McDowell’s repressive legislation.

Echoing the sentiments of the Irish media, press councils across Europe claim the swingeing rules would undermine the self-regulation of newspapers.

Clearly, the minister’s heavy-handed approach would spell the end of investigative journalism here. The exposure of the nefarious activities of people in high places, underlines the importance of serious, in-depth journalism as a plank of our democracy.