The National Newspapers of Ireland (NNI) today added its voice to the tributes being paid to Prof Thomas Mitchell as he prepares to conclude his term as Chairman of the Press Council of Ireland.

Paul Cooke, NNI Chairman said "Prof Mitchell has been a leading figure in establishing Ireland's press complaints mechanism, first as Chairman of the Press Industry Steering Committee, which agreed the model for that system, and then as Chairman of the Council itself.

He has been involved in this process for more than 7 years and has therefore been instrumental in providing Irish citizens with a means of articulating and resolving complaints about press articles.

In that time, Prof Mitchell constantly maintained a balance between the importance of press freedom, the role of media to inform and of course the right of every citizen to his or her good name.

Under his leadership the inaugural Press Council of Ireland retained the goodwill and respect of the industry and has helped to strenghten the relationship our newspapers have with their readers.

One behalf of Ireland's eighteen national newspapers and the thirty-six NNI local and regional newspapers, we thanks Prof Mitchell and wish him well" concluded Mr Cooke