"Grossly unfair" intrusion into the private lives of public figures is placing "enormous pressures" on their families, the Tánaiste, Ms Harney, said yesterday. Eithne Donnellan and Alison Healy report.
Ms Harney said: "I think everybody including public figures are entitled to a private life, provided that private life doesn't impact negatively on their public life.
"I think intruding into somebody's private life can have not just adverse effects on the individual public figure, but can have huge adverse effects on their family, can put enormous pressure on children, and spouses and parents, and I think it's grossly unfair, and thankfully in this country for many, many years that has been respected."
Ms Harney added: "The media is about giving news, imparting news, educating and informing people. That should not necessitate the intrusion into people's private life and the effect that that can have on a whole host of people, not just the individual themselves".
Ms Harney was speaking after the RTÉ news correspondent, Charlie Bird, told how he had been followed by a tabloid photographer for days, to see if he was in a new relationship.
Last night the press industry said it was seeking a meeting with the Minister for Justice, Mr McDowell, to discuss its proposals for a press complaints system and a code of practice.
The Press Industry Steering Committee, which includes publishers, editors and representatives from the National Union of Journalists, said it had submitted its proposal "for the establishment of a press complaints system together with a code of practice to the Minister for Justice. At this point the press industry steering committee is awaiting a date for a meeting with the Minister".