Catherine Martin has welcomed a Bill proposing to ban broadcasters from blacklisting certain journalists from their stations in future.
But the Minister for Media has postponed the next debate stage of the Bill being brought by Sinn Féin TD, David Cullinane, for 18 months.
She is using a parliamentary device, a timed amendment, as she says she believes the issue is not urgent and could do with more time to look into the important issues raised.
Journalists from The Currency and the Irish Times were banned from appearing as guests on Communicorp radio stations in recent years.
The bans have since been rescinded, ultimately after a new owner, Bauer Media, bought the controlling interest in Communicorp from businessman Denis O’Brien this summer.
However, Mr Cullinane is going ahead with his proposed legislation because he said he believes a Bill will prevent anything like this from happening again.
Ms Martin said: “We as a Government are keenly aware of the issues raised by the Bill, and I thank the Deputy for bringing it forward and encouraging this debate.
“A free and pluralist media is one of the cornerstones of a modern democracy.
“It should quite rightly be supported.
“In times of crisis, freedom of expression and information and freedom of the media are vital components of the functioning of democratic societies.
“As I stated, the Government deems this issue of the utmost importance.
“We will continue to strive to foster free, open and democratic debate across all forms of media.
“Ireland's adoption of the resolution on the safety of journalists at a European level reinforces this statement.”
Mr Cullinane, on introducing the Bill to the Dáil, said: “The Bill would ensure that the targeted censorship we have witnessed could not happen again without a mechanism for accountability.”
