Eamon Gilmore (Dún Laoghaire, Labour)

I join Deputy Hogan and the Tánaiste in welcoming the release of Fr. Michael Sinnott, which is a great relief to his family and colleagues in the Columban Fathers. I also join the tributes being paid to the Minister for Foreign Affairs and, through him, to Ambassador O'Brien and his colleagues, for the outstanding work they did in securing the release of Fr. Sinnott.

On legislation, the Defamation Act was passed in the House on 8 July last. Introduced in July 2006, the legislation had a long gestation in the Houses. Having taken three years to be passed, the Act has not yet come into effect, apparently because the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform has not yet made the commencement order. What is delaying the making of the commencement order? When will it be made and laid before the House?

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