Press watchdog formally begins work

The independent watchdog set up to rule on public complaints about the print media today officially opened for business.

The independent watchdog set up to rule on public complaints about the print media today officially opened for business.

The Press Council and Press Ombudsman has said it will force publications to print apologies or retractions if a grievance is upheld.

The new complaints bodies - established as an alternative to costly court cases - will not have the power to award compensation.

Former journalist Professor John Horgan was appointed as Ireland's first Press Ombudsman last August. His office, which is supported by the print media and National Union of Journalists, is charged with investigating and adjudicating on complaints from the public.

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A new Code of Practice agreed by the press industry will be the framework against which all complaints are considered. Complaints which are not resolved satisfactorily by the Ombudsman can be referred to the 13-member strong Press Council drawn from the public and the media industry.

The Press Council and Press Ombudsman have taken out advertisements in national newspapers to invite the public to contact them if they have a valid complaint.

The independent members of the Press Council are Seamus Boland, CEO of Irish Rural Link; Mary Kotsonouris, former District Court Judge; John Horgan, former Labour Court Chairman; Maeve McDonagh, Associate Professor of Law in UCC; Dr Eleanor O'Higgins, senior lecturer in UCD and Peter O'Mahony, former CEO of the Irish Refugee Council.

Representing the media are Eoin McVey, managing editor of The Irish Times; Rosemary Delaney, of WMB Publishing Ltd; Michael Denieffe, managing editor of Independent Newspapers; Martin Fitzpatrick, of the Irish executive council of the NUJ; Michael McNiffe, Irish Sun editor and Frank Mulrennan, president of the Regional Newspapers and Printers Association of Ireland.

Former Trinity College Dublin Provost Professor Thomas Mitchell is the council's chairman.

NUJ Irish secretary Seamus Dooley said the new complaints mechanism represented an important development in the history of the Irish media. "For too long legal redress was the only option open to readers and for many people that costly form of redress was not an affordable option," he said.

"The public may be sceptical about a regulatory system funded by the newspaper industry but I believe that the Ombudsman and Press Council should be judged over time by their actions.

"The industry has responded to the legitimate public demand for greater accountability and media organisations are investing considerable resources in this process. "The composition of the Press Council, with majority civic society membership, reflects the commitment to independence."

PA