Move to abolish juries in defamation cases 'retrograde and deeply disturbing'

The lack of a ‘serious harm test’ in the new legislation is a point of chagrin for Irish media

The Tánaiste Micheál Martin (left) and Minister for Justice Helen McEntee in the Courtyard of Government Buildings on Thursday announcing that the Government has approved the publication of the Defamation (Amendment) Bill 2024. Photo: Leon Farrell / © RollingNews.ie

Across society, from legal practitioners to journalists to academics, the calls for updated defamation legislation have been heard for years on end.

Now, with a general election looming, a new Defamation Bill, 15 years after the previous one was enacted, is about to be presented to the Oireachtas — though should that election be called in or around October, the chances of the Bill becoming legislation before the Government is dissolved would appear slim.