Oireachtas Joint and Select Committees

Tuesday, 4 July 2023

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality

General Scheme of the Defamation (Amendment) Bill: Discussion (Resumed)

Ms Jessica N? Mhain?n:

In England and Wales the presumption of a right to a jury trial has been abolished, or enacted rather, since 2013. It is a completely uncontentious there. Juries have rarely been used in defamation cases since then and possibly have not been used at all. That would be a logical way to go. It is a middle ground option, rather than complete abolition.