Fine Gael has said it will oppose moves by the Government to introduce a statutory press council. The party said it favours a system of self-regulation, although it has not yet finalised its proposals.
Speaking ahead of a meeting today with the National Newspapers of Ireland (NNI), Cork TD Mr Jim O'Keeffe said that the party also wanted to see changes introduced in the law of libel.
Mr O'Keeffe said he was "utterly opposed" to a system of statutory regulation. "I feel that we should implement the recommendations of the 1996 Commission on the Newspaper Industry." In addition to its call for changes to the law of libel, the commission recommended the establishment of an ombudsman to investigate complaints.
Referring to newspapers published outside the State, Mr O'Keeffe also said he believed that any new media complaints mechanism "should have universal effect".
He supported changes in the law of libel because it appeared that the law had fallen behind best international practice.
The NNI supports self-regulation and offered five years ago to fund a wholly-independent mechanism for press complaints.
