Ahern denies Privacy Bill has been scrapped

The Government still intends to proceed with the Privacy Bill, Taoiseach Bertie Ahern insisted in the Dáil.

As the Defamation Bill was introduced in the Seanad yesterday, Mr Ahern told the Opposition that "both the Privacy Bill and the Defamation Bill are due to proceed". Fine Gael leader Enda Kenny had asked, following the publication by the Minister for Justice of the Defamation Bill, whether "the Privacy Bill 2006, which was driven by members of Government, has been dropped".

Mr Ahern said that both Bills were due to proceed. "As the deputy is aware from comments that have been made, the industry has been making representations to the Tánaiste regarding changes and he is prepared to engage with its representatives in that regard. The Government still intends to proceed with both Bills," he said.

The defamation legislation was expected to recognise the establishment of an independent press council and complaints procedure, details of which were announced on Tuesday. Plans for a press council were stalled in July when the Government published a proposed Privacy Bill but Tánaiste and Minister for Justice Michael McDowell decided to proceed separately with the Defamation Bill. He too had denied that that this meant the Privacy Bill had been dropped.

The Defamation Bill provides that if an apology is printed in advance of a libel case, it will be taken into account by a jury. To be recognised in the new defamation legislation, the press council has to have a majority of independent members on it and have a code of conduct. The 13-person press council and office of press ombudsman will deal with complaints from members of the public about articles published by newspapers and magazines. Mr Ahern also said that the Sale of Alcohol Bill, to deal with the sale and consumption of alcohol, will be published early next year. The Bill will codify all relevant legislation introduced prior to and since the foundation of the State.