Jim O'Keeffe (Cork South West, Fine Gael)

I wish to raise two Bills, the defamation Bill, which I have long advocated, and the privacy Bill, about which I have considerable reservations because they are driven more by efforts to spancel media comment on ministerial misdemeanours than by anxiety to protect the public interest.

Two issues arise on these Bills. When will they be circulated? The Minister announced them at a press conference yesterday, in breach of parliamentary procedures. I understood that Bills must be circulated within the Houses before they could be announced outside. That should be considered at this afternoon's meeting of the CPP. Were these Bills announced without Cabinet approval and, if not, when was Cabinet approval given?

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