Brussels Briefing: Speaking out in Parliament is protected

Socialist MEP Paul Murphy spoke forcefully in the European Parliament during the week against homophobic attitudes in Ireland.

But his remarks were not picked up by many media because of fear of libel.

A thorough investigation by this newspaper, however, has confirmed that MEPs’ statements in the Parliament are fully protected against defamation actions, and so are those reporting them — just as in the Oireachtas.