Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 2 May 2012
110 Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if he will put the Press Council of Ireland and the Office of the Press Ombudsman on a statutory footing; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22267/12]
Amharc ar fhreagraSection 44 of the Defamation Act 2009 provides for the Minister for Justice and Equality to make an Order, subject to the approval of both Houses of the Oireachtas granting statutory recognition as a Press Council to a body that seeks recognition as such. It requires that the Minister be satisfied that the applicant body complies with the provisions set out in Schedule 2. No more than one such body can be recognised and the order may be revoked. On 21 April, 2010, the then Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform signed the Defamation Act 2009 (Press Council) Order 2010 (S.I. No. 163 of 2010) granting recognition to the Press Council of Ireland. The Order took immediate effect.
