Members of the Alliance of Independent Press Councils of Europe have expressed their "alarm" at proposals for the establishment of a statutory press council in Ireland.
A State-controlled press council would not only go against the trend in Europe and throughout much of the world, but it would also diminish press freedom and undermine the independence of Irish newspapers, according to AIPCE.
The AIPCE was responding to the proposals from the Government's Legal Advisory Group on Defamation to establish a statutory press council.
"For more than 10 years the National Newspapers of Ireland has been calling for a reform of the libel/defamation laws," the AIPCE said.
"In 2001 and again in 2002, NNI offered to set up and fund a system of independent press regulation, incorporating a Press Council and Press Ombudsman, in return for changes to Ireland's libel laws.
"We note that the advisory group has recommended that law reform be introduced only if the newspaper industry accepts the establishment of a State-controlled - rather than independent - press council."
The AIPCE has called on the Government to work with the NNI "towards the establishment of a truly independent press council."
It added: "We find that this independent system guarantees a higher ethical standard than any other form of regulation. This is clearly in the interest of the general public."
