Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I move amendment No. 2:

In page 11, line 13, to delete “18 and 19” and substitute “18, 19 and 20”

This amendment is necessary because of the insertion of a new Part 20 into the Bill which provides for amendments to the Defamation Act 2009. Amendment No. 17 inserts a new single section Part 20 into the Bill, which amends a number of provisions in Schedule 1 of the Defamation Act 2009. The amendments essentially aim to ensure that post-Brexit fair and accurate public interest reporting of certain statements, meetings and press conferences that are held in the UK will continue to be protected against claims of defamation by the defence of qualified privilege in exactly the same way that it exists today. It is making an amendment to include the United Kingdom as part of the structure that currently exists. The amendments arise because several provisions in the 2009 Act regarding the qualified defence applied to reporting of statements and meetings which occur in EU member states. The amendments simply amend these provisions to refer to reports of matters including members of the United Kingdom. It is quite straightforward.

Amendment No. 18 provides for the amendment of the Long Title of the Bill and this is necessary simply because of the insertion of the section of the Bill to provide for the amendment to the Defamation Act.

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