Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 19 May 2004
75 Mr. R. Bruton asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will make a statement on recent comments made by a former US diplomat in relation to attitudes within the Irish media; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14528/04]
View answerI am aware of the comments reportedly made by a former US diplomat, Mr. George Dempsey, to which the Deputy refers. I am confident that Mr. Dempsey, as a former diplomat, appreciates the importance of a free and independent media in an open democracy and that he understands the need to have as wide a range of views as possible on issues of public concern. Freedom of expression and diversity of opinion go hand in hand. Deputies may already know that in the recently released Table of Global Press Freedom Rankings for 2004, as compiled by Freedom House, a non-profit, non-partisan organisation, Ireland, along with the United States, was ranked in the top 25 of 192 countries surveyed for press freedom. I would not agree with Mr. Dempsey's reported comments that there is a prevailing view in the Irish media that vilifies American foreign policy.
