Ireland’s defamation laws ‘must match Europe’s’

It is time for Ireland’s defamation laws to be brought into line with the rest of Europe, NewsBrands Ireland chairman Vincent Crowley will tell a conference organised by the Bar of Ireland today.

Mr Crowley is concerned about the “significant challenge” posed to freedom of expression by Ireland’s defamation regime and is urging the Government to complete its review of the 2009 Defamation Act, which is long overdue.

Speaking ahead of the Defamation Nation conference that takes place in Malaga, Spain, this weekend, he said good defamation policy is not about giving journalists a free rein to write what they liked.