The Press Ombudsman - An office that can serve us all

A FORMAL announcement will be made today establishing the Office of Press Ombudsman and the Press Council of Ireland.

It is more than two decades since such a facility was first proposed by the late Douglas Gageby and the welcome but overdue event is of greater significance than might be immediately apparent.

We are lucky, whether we accept it or not, to have an independent press, and, in the great majority of instances, reliable and objective. This is one of the component functions of a participatory democracy and it is to be cherished and protected.