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JUSTICE MINISTER ALAN Shatter has said that he is to revisit the provisions of a privacy bill that was first introduced six years ago in the wake of the Irish Daily Star’s publication of topless photos of Kate, the Duchess of Cambridge.
In a statement issued this evening, Shatter has criticised the decision of the paper to publish the photos of Kate as it did last weekend and has said that balanced privacy legislation is now needed.
The publication of the photos has caused a furore in recent days with the British co-owner of the paper threatening to move to shut it down, a decision that the Communications Minister Pat Rabbitte earlier described as “nonsense”.
This evening Shatter said that despite the existence of the Press Council, “it is clear that some sections of the print media are either unable or unwilling in their reportage to distinguish between ‘prurient interest’ and ‘the public interest’”.
Shatter said that there appeared to be “no value of any nature” attached to an individual’s right to privacy as recognised by both the Irish Constitution and the European Convention on Human Rights.
“It is perceived financial gain as opposed to any principled freedom of expression that for some is the dominant value. The publication by the Irish Daily Star in Ireland of topless photographs of Kate Middleton, the Duchess of Cambridge, is a clear illustration of this,” he said.
“It is clear that sections of the print media believe that public figures are fair game and have no right to privacy in respect of any aspect of their lives.”
He said that he now intended to revisit the provisions of the Privacy Bill 2006 that was first published by the Fianna Fáil-Progressive Democrat coalition six years ago and which was substantially reproduced by Senator David Norris in the Seanad last March.
The bill was described at the time as “premature” by Shatter but he said today that he would now consider “what changes should be made to it in the context of developments that have taken place since its first publication and to then progress its enactment”.
Shatter said that there needed to be a balance struck in any legislation between not inhibiting “proper investigate journalism” and “flagrant violation of an individual’s right to privacy”.
He added: “What is needed is balanced legislation that does nothing to inhibit proper investigative journalism, the reporting of news and the expression of opinion on issues of genuine public interest in a manner that respects the ethos and values of a constitutional democracy but which also prevents the abuse of an individual’s human rights and flagrant violation of an individual’s right to privacy.”
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Its not our monarch! Bigger fish to fry at the moment than this.
It is a downward slope when we decide not to defend others rights just because it doesn’t affect us. The quote Martin Miemoller;
When the Nazis came for the communists,
I remained silent;
I was not a communist.
When they locked up the social democrats,
I remained silent;
I was not a social democrat.
When they came for the trade unionists,
I did not speak out;
I was not a trade unionist.
When they came for the Jews,
I remained silent;
I wasn’t a Jew.
When they came for me,
there was no one left to speak out.
@Vocal Outrage
I would hardly compare the suffering and terror of what happened in Nazi Germany to the ordinary person on the street to some privileged aristocrat getting photographed topless whilst enjoying a lavish holiday now would you? Less of the drama and get over it!
Thats a litle rich, VO,…this a daily occurrence…but when the royal knickers get twisted we have a nine bell alarm..this is basically appeasing the Unionists(north and south)..this is not about rights..royals do their rights in the divine dimension, remember..divine rights of kings….its about privileged celebrity parasites.
And there was Vocal Outrage at the match urging all women present to “get your tits out”! And I remained silent in disgust. For that I carry blame but in future I will shout back yer Willy is gone Wonka.
Spectacular misuse of a powerful quote.
Shatter is playing to the gallery, sort out the mess we are in first…….
So we should just ignore all our other problems until the economy is fixed…
As opposed to ignoring the economic problem and focusing on topless Kate … might be an idea.
For once I’m in agreement with Shatter. I never understand the concentrate only on the economy attitude, there are many other very important areas that also need legislating on. They don’t just disappear because the economy is broken.
Shatter would not be so excited if it was Bernie from Tallagh whose privacy was impugned. And that says much about the personal prejudices of an tAire Dlí agus Cirt.
He’s the Minister for Justice. The economy isn’t part of his brief really.
@Ryan Allen. Thank god for small mercies. If he understood the economy as well as justice we’d be in bigger trouble than we are now.
Yes David, this really is a huge problem for us. Cop on.
LOL
So the Duchess of Cambridge is “all other problems” eh?
Fine Gael, brought to you by Now magazine!!
LOL
So the Duchess of Cambridge is “all other problems” eh?
Fine Gael, brought to you by Now magazine!!
LOL.
So, “all our other problems” are the Duchess of Cambrige and some bad pics?!
Fine Gael, brought to you by Now magazine!!
See topless Kate here
http://img.ibtimes.com/www/data/images/full/2012/09/14/304728-topless-kate-middleton.jpg
brilliant!!
Very clever – lol ++!
Of all the serious issues facing the citizenry, such as the hopelessly out of date bail laws, the revolving doors of our prison system, drugs on the Liffey boardwalk and gun-totin’ mourners, what does Mr Alan Shatter, Minister for Justice choose to prioritise: the topless Mrs Windsor.
Those gun slinging mourners were arrested last week.
Oh for God’s sake ….. who cares ????
If you took the time to read the article and comment then you must…
Typical Blueshirt reaction. Distracting us all from the real work to be yet done. Smoke and mirrors, marching bands and all singing all dancing stage show being somehow to be a higher priority.
Why are you against the Irish Guard Band performing at the K Club in aid of the Jack & Jill Foundation as the beneficiaries of any money raised from the event?
I knew nothing of the K Club story that you refer to. Had no intention in that direction. No issue with such happenings.
@Kevin Sorry I thought you were on about the Irish Guards band performing at the K club and which éirígí are protesting about
Well done to those who are protesting that disgusting and hypocrisy laden event.
The Irish Guards are responsible for the deaths of Children in Iraq and elsewhere. Now a Children’s charity is inviting them to help in their fundraising!?
Sort of like a fundraiser for victims of child abuse being assisted by a paedophile gang
Good man Alan!!little to worry about other than protecting a future queen of England??!!?what about protecting your own citizens from a lot more serious issues than their privacy
Even if Catherine is a member of the British Royal Family she deserves privacy like any other member of the general public. I have to say she was quite careless in her actions.
Yes the Minister is right to review our privacy laws.
For crying out…its a mammary gland…you know..the thing you were latched onto just after that initiating smack on the arse..the prudish and prurient shite around this shows how twisted our juvenile culture is.
Alright Damien, when some perv installs cameras in the showers or over the urinals will you use the same argument? Either everyone should have the right to privacy or nobody should.
Shoot away..I look forward to the global headlines…the whole episode is symptomatic of a perverted attitude to the human body..and a predemocratic deference to self-appointed ‘royalty’ and ‘fairy tale’ weddings which indicates a profiound lack of adult judgement and values all round.
If it were not so depressing in what it says about public discourse…it might add up to a weak joke.
This family are on the verge of having their government collaborate in Operation WMD Mk II in Iran, which has all the potential to escalate under the Stragelovian Pentagonian PNAC of resource hegemony…but a nipple a day keeps the intelligence away..from the public…the real pervs are those nuclear nuts hanging Iran as cover for their own expanding arsenals…but there seems to be a distinct shortage of adults about the playground.
Jesus in the case fair play to her getting them out to distract the public from the in-laws’ cunning plan
if only it amounted to a cunning plan….instead of a re-run of the collective idiocy of Iraq and the expanding crap
Well said Damien.
I think it may be no coincidence that the minister responsible for this bottle of smokescreen factor 40 is the regular defender of Israel’s war-crimes and assassination program(including using Irish passports)is the ultra-polished Mr Shatter. The escalation in the Gulf at the minute(and eastern Med)is another case of the Israeli tail steering the global nato war-dog.
And is not Communications et al Rabbitte’s portfolio??
I smell an agenda
The Minister ought to prioritise the demands of his portfolio.
@Rory As Minister for Justice and Defence, privacy laws come under his portfolio.
It happened in France to a British celebrity…its not exactly like they dusted down the guillotine….hey now THERE is an idea…
You’ve got more important things to focus on Shatter, don’t try to use this as an excuse to muzzle the Irish media under the pretext of “privacy”.
I’d prefer if our Justice Minister would stop being led around by the media.
What’s next, Action man gets a caution for uniform crimes!
Can you believe the future Queen of England is caught up in this fiasco.You wouldnt see Michelle Obama disgraced like that.
If it was pictures of another member of a different royal family (let’s say Crown Princess Victoria of Sweden) would there be as much hype around pictures?
whats the deal??She showed her tits…they got photographed..lets pretend we’re adults and LAUGH at the whole idiotic episode…
Of course Shatter should review the privacy bill- it simply should not be legal to undermine someone’s privacy and dignity in this manner- regardless of whether she is a foreign royal and so her treatment at the hands of the Irish press should for some reason be of no concern to us, as some posters are suggesting.
The lads in the pub wanted me to put up the topless photos on the wall and I said no way will I insult the future head of any country. But I can see them photos causing problems in years to come.
The lads in the pub are wrong, you stick to your guns Richard.
yeah man. they should be put up in the toilet ;)
Make a handy dart-board..
..you know..double tops to start..and you’re away…use the belly-button for a bull’s eye..
I don’t really care too much about the royal baps: only an idiot would print them, and a bigger idiot would buy a newspaper or magazine to see them.
But I do recognise an attempt by Shatter to sieze an opportunity to restrict the freedom of the press. Will he legislate for bosom-free publications, or perhaps use the situation to prevent proper investigative journalism?
It’s funny how on a story about the Leveson Inquiry people are appalled at the various injustices that went on in the UK, with claims the same happened in Ireland. I’ve seen plenty of demands for tightening up the privacy laws on those stories.
And then when it’s announced following yet another example of the low standards among tabloids that something will be done, the reaction is incredibly hostile with fears for the press.
Irish people are so fickle.
Yes, this really seems to be pointing to some new sort of upcoming press censorship by the regime to block any news reporting misdemeanors that might discredit them or their wealthy backers.
They’re safe enough on that front..the same wealthy backers own our media..or control it through advertising budgets
West brit pr#ck
nail on head
More Mossad plank, surely?
I don’t know about anyone else but I’ve a pain in my left one with this story.
Honestly I couldn’ t give a toss about Kate Middleton’s breasts.This story is just a way for the media to lure ordinary folk away from the issues that REALLY matter,like all the protests against austerity in Spain,and the further public service cuts that will happen after next budget.
Padraig
Rory
the blue shirt becomes a brown more !
more equals nose !!
how bout he looks back into the Israeli theft of Irish passports.
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