July 25, 2024

Reform of Defamation Laws welcomed as a good day for press freedom and the role of journalism.

Amended Bill will see the end of jury trials for defamation cases, provide more robust measures to protect individuals’ reputations, and reduce legal costs and delays for news publishers

Disappointment from news media sector at absence of ‘Serious Harm Test’

25 July 2024. NewsBrands Ireland, the representative body for Ireland’s national news publishers has welcomed today’s Cabinet approval of the Defamation (Amendment) Bill as a “good day for press freedom and journalism’.

CEO of NewsBrands Ireland Ann Marie Lenihan said: “I would like to thank the Minister for Justice Helen McEntee and Minister of State James Browne for their efforts in progressing this Bill to cabinet. NewsBrands Ireland have long campaigned for reform and we are pleased that our recommendation for the abolition of juries has been included.

“Today is a good day for journalism and press freedom. These reforms will lead to reduced legal costs for news publishers, costs which were threatening the very viability of investigative journalism and having a chilling effect on the reporting of matters in the public interest. Defamation laws which were designed to protect individual’s reputation from false statements were being used by the rich and powerful as a shield against criticism.”

 “We are however disappointed that our recommendation for a Serious Harm Test is not included in the Bill. We urge reconsideration of this as the Irish media faces, on an almost daily basis, unwarranted and exaggerated claims for defamation.

“Reform of the defamation laws have been promised for many years and are long overdue. It is critical that the Bill is prioritised now by Government and that it completes the legislative process before the election.” Ms Lenihan added.

NewsBrands Ireland has been at the forefront of campaigning for defamation law reform in Ireland. Through numerous submissions, government meetings, and Oireachtas Committee hearings, it has highlighted how Ireland’s defamation regime is wholly out of kilter with other European and English-speaking countries. Our laws have been criticised by the European Court of Human Rights, Reporters without Borders, and WAN-IFRA.

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For further details, please contact:

Lisa Buckley, Communications Director, NewsBrands Ireland

0877779259