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Union seeks meeting with Naughten on media policy


In the wake of the decision by Celtic Media Group Plc and INM to walk away from the proposed INM acquisition of the regional newspaper group the NUJ has sought a meeting with Communications Minister Denis Naughten on the future of the media in Ireland. Acting General Secretary


Séamus Dooley pointed out that it would have been inappropriate for the union to seek a meeting while awaiting a decision on the Celtic Media Group acquisition but that is no longer a live issue. The NUJ welcomed the news


that Independent News and Media (INM) would not be


acquiring Celtic Media after the two companies confirmed they were walking away from the proposed €4 million takeover. Celtic Media publishes the


Westmeath Independent, Offaly Independent Westmeath Examiner, Anglo Celt, Meath Chronicle and the Connaught Telegraph newspapers. Séamus Dooley welcomed the


removal of the threat to media diversity but said the government needs to enable a wide ranging debate on the future of the media industry. It should now be a narrow debate focussed on individual transactions or on concentration of ownership.


Leech verdict welcomed


The National Union of Journalists has welcomed the determination of the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) that the Supreme Court’s €1.25m award in the Monica Leech defamation case was disproportionate and that it breached Independent News and Media’s freedom of expression. The case concerned the action


taken by communicat ions consultant Monica Leech over a story about a burglary at her home almost 12 years ago. Séamus Dooley, NUJ Acting


General Secretary, described the determination as “a landmark judgement for Irish journalism”. “The NUJ has long been


concerned at the risk posed to media organisations by the current defamation regime. The ECHR emphasised the need for ‘a detailed and specific direction’ to juries and this is consistent with the long held belief of the NUJ. We support the principle of juries in defamation cases but it has long been clear that juries need


direction when deciding on the scale of damages,” he said. “The rul ing is ext remely significant because of the emp h a s i s p l a c e d o n t h e importance attached to the concept of freedom of speech and the need for an appropriate level of damages. “The award against the Evening


Herald was a striking example of a situation which has long been a concern to editors, journalists and publishers. “Thi s judgement should discourage rich and powerful people who currently seek to silence the media to think twice before going down the lucrative libel route. “In any campaign for libel


reform there must also be an emphasis on use of the office of the Press Council of Ireland and the Press Ombudsman as an alternative to legal action. N e w s p a p e r o w n e r s a n d shareholders should lead by example in this regard.”


Dooley is re-elected


Acting Irish Secretary Séamus Dooley has been re-elected to the Executive Council of the ICTU. He has also been appointed


by the ICTU to the newly formed Worker Employer Advisory Committee of the Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission. The NUJ has to the fore in proposing establishment of the new committee, a significant breakthrough in placing employment issues and rights on the agenda of the commission.


BDC 2017


The Irish Biennial Delegate Conference takes place on Saturday 18th November in the Gresham Hotel, Dublin. We are now seeking motions


for the conference. All motions need to be agreed at a properly constituted branch meeting and returned to the Irish office by 5pm on Friday 28th July 2017.


Branches have also been


invited to nominate delegates and members who wish to be considered should contact their branch officer.


IEC election


Nominations are invited for the new Irish Executive Council. The new council will take office following Biennial Delegate Conference on 18 November, 2017. Branch nomination forms


must reach NUJ, 2nd Floor, Spencer House, Spencer Row, Off Store Street, Dublin 1 by 5pm on Friday 28 July.


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