Legislation to overhaul defamation laws to be considered by Government within weeks

Legislation to overhaul defamation laws is to be considered by the Government next month.

Taoiseach Simon Harris said on World Press Freedom Day on Friday that “Democracy cannot truly flourish without robust protection for the right of freedom of expression.”

“This will be carefully balanced with safeguarding the individual right to a good name and reputation,” he continued.

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The proposed legislation would abolish the use of juries in High Court defamation cases, support more use of alternative dispute resolution, reform and simplify several key defences to defamation.

The proposed legislation would also ensure easier and less costly access to redress for victims of defamation. It includes provisions to stop strategic lawsuits against public participation (SLAPPs) or cases taken to intimidate or harass critics.

It will also transpose an EU anti-SLAPP Directive in the context of defamation proceedings. In a letter to the Taoiseach, NewsBrands Ireland, which represents many of the country's newspapers, called on the Government to move ahead with the changes in legislation.

In the letter, editors told Mr Harris it would be "a missed opportunity and a significant blow to a free media and to democracy itself if this important opportunity were to slip away now".

They say that in contrast to other legislation on the Government's busy agenda the new defamation legislation is already significantly advanced. The letter was signed by editors from a number of news outlets.

Subject to legal advice, the Government said it hopes Minister for Justice Helen McEntee can provide a full draft for approval by the end of June. Meanwhile, media watchdog group Reporters Without Borders warned of declining government support for press freedom as it unveiled its annual world rankings, highlighting Argentina among the countries where the situation has deteriorated.

Norway retained its top position, while Eritrea came last, taking over from last year's lowest-ranked country, North Korea. Ireland fell six places ranking number eight in this year's rankings, but remains within the top ten.

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