Pat Rabbitte (Dublin South West, Labour)

In early December I asked the Taoiseach about the defamation Bill and why it has been pushed into a lay-by since the former Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform decided to rise to a more exciting challenge. The Taoiseach very kindly wrote to me to say the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform, Deputy Dermot Ahern, would be in touch with me about it. The Minister has been very busy representing all his constituents without discrimination, or as some would say, without discernment, and has not written to me yet. Would the Taoiseach ask the Minister to drop me a note about the defamation Bill because there is a difficulty in the Ombudsman's office unless it is underpinned by legislation?

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