The Privacy Bill (Ireland)

The Irish government's proposed law on the protection of privacy is still moving slowly through the Senate, which is the upper house of parliament. Since the lower house has not seen it yet, it is difficult to believe that it will become law before next summer's general election. This will accord with the Justice Minister Michael McDowell's real wishes: the Bill is beloved of the governing coalition's majority party, but is personally repugnant to the libertarian Minister, leader of the Progressive Democrat party, who is also close to media interests in Ireland.

I have made available a link to the text of the Bill here

Comments

[john]

Hi,

Could you give expand on your entry. I like to know why TD's were so admant they wanted a privacy bill? And why the Minister of Justice was reluctant initially? Thanks,

John

[Fergus O'Rourke]

John,

Thank you for your query.

I did not describe any TDs as being "adamant", though it might indeed be an accurate word in the circumstances. I am not sure, since there has not been much said on the subject in public by TDs.

McDowell's motives are a study in themselves. I have no current appetite for that study. It is obvious though that he is, whether from pragmatism or principle I cannot say, aligned with the interests of media controllers.

Fianna Fail TDs OTOH are obviously pragmatically motivated in favouring restraint on media intrusion into their privacy: they tend to have a lot to hide.

Notwithstanding this pragmatic background, most politicians (not just FF) know that journalists and their intrusive behaviour are even less popular than they (politicians) are, and that the job of TDs is to represent popular feeling. That's pragmatic as well, of course, but it can be presented, not always insincerely, as principle.