The Government's privacy Bill would undermine plans for self-regulation of newspapers in Ireland, a group of European press councils has said.
After discussing the draft legislation at its annual meeting, the Alliance of Independent Press Councils of Europe took the unusual step of issuing a statement expressing concern over the Government's proposals.
In it, the alliance insisted that giving a press council statutory recognition departed from European norms.
"Representatives of press councils and media organisations from 20 countries were concerned to hear that efforts to create a self-regulatory press council in Ireland may be thwarted by proposed new privacy legislation," the statement read.
The signatories hoped that the press in Ireland "would still be given a chance to demonstrate that a self-regulatory system can promote high journalistic standards and deliver effective redress for complainants, while protecting freedom of expression in the media".
"The existence of imposed regulations to govern the editorial content of newspapers and magazines would be likely to make the practice of self-regulation impossible. Self-regulation of the press is the norm throughout Europe, including Eastern Europe where many new press councils have recently been established."
The privacy Bill was published in July in tandem with proposals to reform the law on defamation. The draft legislation would allow individuals to go to the courts to prevent publication of material on the grounds that it interfered with their rights to privacy.
Minister for Justice Michael McDowell said it was designed to protect all citizens from invasion of privacy while recognising the vital and necessary role of bona fide news-gathering.
Rather than allow for a voluntary press council, run by the industry, the Bill provides for an independent council with statutory recognition.
Last weekend, Mr McDowell promised to hold talks with media representatives to discuss the scope of the proposed legislation. He was speaking after a Dublin conference on the issue heard strong criticisms from the National Union of Journalists, newspaper editors and lawyers.
Andrea Martin, a solicitor in media law, told the conference that the Bill was badly thought out, poorly drafted and would bring uncertainty to civil law.
Ms Martin also said privacy law had been developing in a considered manner through the courts and should be allowed to continue to do so, supplemented by the deliberations and decisions of a vibrant and engaged press council.