Proposed reform of Ireland's defamation law can be seen in action in England and Wales 

The Oireachtas justice committee wants a ‘serious harm test’ applied to defamation claims. Here, SAYRA TEKIN describes the effect the test has had since it was introduced in Britain

Tory MP Andrew Mitchell unsuccessfully sued 'The Sun' after it reported he'd called Downing Street police officers 'fucking plebs'. The costs of £3m (€3.4m) in the case illustrate the potential power of SLAPPs to dissuade the media from reporting things they know to be true. File picture: David Jones/PA

Defamation law is a critical part of the complex legal and regulatory environment which journalists must navigate when doing their job of holding power to account on behalf of the public.

Defamation has, rightly, been described by McNae’s Essential Law for Journalists — the definitive British media law guide for journalists — as “one of the greatest legal dangers for anyone who earns a living with words and images”. In a democratic society, it is therefore essential that the law strikes the right balance between the individual’s right to a reputation and the right to freedom of speech.