THE Taoiseach, Mr Bruton, last night presented the European Journalism Awards, with the main prize, the Liam Hourican Award, going to James Downey, a freelance journalist, who writes for the Irish Independent and Business and Finance. Mr Downey also won the award for magazine journalism.
Mr Tommie Gorman, RTE's European Correspondent, won the National Radio and Television award.
The National Newspaper award went to The Irish Times Foreign Affairs Correspondent, Mr Mark Brennock. Due to the high standard of entries, special commendations were given to The Irish Times European Correspondent, Mr Patrick Smyth, Ms Francine Cunningham of the Sunday Business Post and Mr Hugh Scanlon of the Irish Farmers' Journal.
The local newspapers award went to Michael McHugh of the Donegal Democrat.
Special commendations were also given in the national radio and television category to Una Claffe and Sean Whelan, both of RTE. Valerie Cox of East Coast Radio won the local broadcasting award and a special commendation in this category went to Adele Armstrong of BBC Radio Fole.
The Young European Journalist award when to Mr Damien Tiernan for his RTE/Agtel Communications programmes, Ear to the Ground. A special commendation was given to Stephen Cullinane, for the same programme.
Mr Tom Hayes, of Employment and Industrial Relations International, was awarded a commendation in the magazine section.
The winner of the Liam Hourican Award receives £3,000 and a sculpture by Carolyn Mulholland. Other winners received £500 and sculptures.
The awards were organised bye the Irish Section of the Association of European Journalists in co-operation with the European Commission representatives in Ireland and the European Parliament Office in Ireland.
On the judging panel were the academic and broadcaster, Prof Brian Farrell the chairwoman of the Irish Committee of the European Cultural Foundation, Dr Miriam Hederman O'Brien Mr David Lennon, managing editor, Financial Times Syndication Mr Ray MacSharry, former EU Commissioner and Mr Robin Walsh, former controller, BBC Northern Ireland.
The main award is dedicated to the memory of Liam Hourican, the distinguished journalist, broadcaster and European Commission official who died suddenly in 1993.