PRESS COUNCIL OF IRELAND
The recently established Press Council of Ireland is the body charged with ensuring independent regulation of the print media in Ireland. The Council appointed the Press Ombudsman whose function is to provide a free and fair mechanism to the public for making complaints concerning a newspaper or magazine. The Council and the Ombudsman ensure compliance with the code of practice for newspapers and periodicals. Any member of the public may avail of the complaints mechanism in relation to any article in any Irish newspaper or magazine. As stated in the Code:
“It is the duty of the Ombudsman and Press Council to ensure that it [the code] is honoured in the spirit as well as in the letter and the duty of publications to assist them in that task.”
Hayes solicitors acted as legal advisors to the Steering Committee which established and incorporated the Press Council and are now its solicitors. Our Chairman, Andrew O’Rorke who was involved with the concept from its initiation has been appointed as the company secretary.