Vol. 518 No. 5
23 Mr. J. O'Keeffe asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if she has had any recent discussions with representatives of the newspaper industry on the appointment of an independent ombudsman to investigate complaints of breaches of press standards; her views on the need for such an appointment; and the proposals, if any, she has in the event that the newspaper industry fails to proceed with such an appointment. [11929/00]
The report of the commission on the newspaper industry, which was published in June 1996, made a number of recommendations which concerned the functional responsibilities of a number of Departments. In November 1996 the then Minister presented an aide memoire to Government on the recommendations contained in the report. The Government decided that each Minister upon whose area of responsibility the recommendations impacted should revert to Government in relation to any necessary action. One of the recommendations of the commission on the newspaper industry was that an independent ombudsman to investigate complaints of breaches of press standards be established. The commission was clear that this ombudsman should be appointed and funded by the newspaper industry. I support the recommendation regarding the establishment of an ombudsman and I also agree that it is for the newspaper industry to regulate itself in this regard. I have not had any up to date discussions on this matter with representatives of the newspaper industry.
The newspaper industry has always linked its acceptance of the ombudsman proposal to changes in the law on defamation and in that respect I understand from my colleague the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform that proposals for legislation on defamation are being prepared in his Department.
