Jim O'Keeffe
Ceist:57 Mr. J. O'Keeffe asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the position regarding the appointment of a press ombudsman. [7790/02]
Written Answers. - Press Ombudsman.
The report of the Commission on the Newspaper Industry, which was published in June 1996, recommended, inter alia, that an independent ombudsman to investigate complaints of breaches of press standards be established. This recommendation was to be implemented by the newspaper industry itself.
The newspaper industry has always linked its acceptance of the ombudsman proposal to changes in the law on defamation, and in that respect the Government approved a general scheme of a defamation Bill on 18 December, 2001. I understand that the Office of the Parliamentary Counsel to the Government has been asked to arrange for formal drafting of a Bill based on that scheme.
I trust that the commitment of the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform to introduce new defamation legislation will enable the newspaper industry to proceed to the establishment of a press ombudsman.
Question No. 58 answered with Question No. 52.