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20/01/2016
New Bill To Protect Journalist Communications - FF
Fianna Fáil has announced a new Bill aimed at protecting confidential communications between a journalist and their source.
The party's Spokesperson on Justice, Niall Collins, said that the Bill would be introduced "at the earliest opportunity", and follows revelations that Garda had used special powers to monitor journalists communications.
According to Deputy Collins the Garda Síochána Amendment Bill 2016 will prevent the accessing of confidential communications between a journalist and their source by a designated officer of GSOC, without a High Court order.
"The recent revelations surrounding the secretive accessing of journalists phone communications by GSOC is deeply concerning. It undermines a core principle of journalism and could discourage people from revealing information in the public interest," Deputy Collins said.
"I am seeking to introduce new legislation in the Dáil at the earliest opportunity aimed at preventing the accessing of confidential communications between a journalist and their source by GSOC. This legislation will ensure that GSOC cannot access such information without a High Court order. The High Court could only grant such an order in exceptional circumstances where the public interest is so required.
"This legislation should be debated by the Dáil as a matter of priority. I'm calling on the Government to allow sufficient time to debate this legislation."
(MH/LM)
The party's Spokesperson on Justice, Niall Collins, said that the Bill would be introduced "at the earliest opportunity", and follows revelations that Garda had used special powers to monitor journalists communications.
According to Deputy Collins the Garda Síochána Amendment Bill 2016 will prevent the accessing of confidential communications between a journalist and their source by a designated officer of GSOC, without a High Court order.
"The recent revelations surrounding the secretive accessing of journalists phone communications by GSOC is deeply concerning. It undermines a core principle of journalism and could discourage people from revealing information in the public interest," Deputy Collins said.
"I am seeking to introduce new legislation in the Dáil at the earliest opportunity aimed at preventing the accessing of confidential communications between a journalist and their source by GSOC. This legislation will ensure that GSOC cannot access such information without a High Court order. The High Court could only grant such an order in exceptional circumstances where the public interest is so required.
"This legislation should be debated by the Dáil as a matter of priority. I'm calling on the Government to allow sufficient time to debate this legislation."
(MH/LM)
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