Peter Feeney, a former RTÉ executive and academic, has been appointed as Ireland's the new press ombudsman. He will replace John Horgan when he retires in September.
Feeney has been a member of the Irish press council since October 2013
He was RTÉ's freedom of information Officer from 2000, and later became head of broadcast compliance, which involved dealing with complaints to the Broadcasting Authority of Ireland (BAI).
He was also responsible for the production of guidelines and training in programme standards. From 1990 to 1997 he was editor of current affairs television for RTÉ. Before that, he lectured in politics at Ulster university of Ulster.
Daithí O'Ceallaigh, press council chairman said he was "delighted" at Feeney's appointment, adding: "He has enjoyed a long and respected media career with a strong commitment to standards in journalism, news and current affairs."
Comment: The press regulation system in Ireland, since the establishment in 2007 of the press council and the office of the press ombudsman, has been markedly less controversial than its British equivalent.
Horgan has proved to be a first-rate ombudsman, with sensible views about regulation, as shown by his evidence to the Leveson inquiry.
His administration was helped considerably by two factors: one, the political and legal settlement that preceded the establishment of the regulator; two, the compliance of Ireland's publishers and editors (plus those based in the UK).
Source: Irish Times
