Jim O'Callaghan (Dublin Bay South, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I thank Deputy Carthy for his contribution. This is probably the most consequential amendment we have discussed this evening. It will probably be of the most assistance to people in Ireland who are concerned and affected by defamation. As I said, the most common form of defamation in Ireland is not carried out by the media. In fact, the media are much more careful and responsible than in the vast amount of other countries. That is why the media in Ireland have such a good reputation. Perhaps it is not acknowledged that part of the reason we have such high-quality media in Ireland is because of the strict defamation laws. Where there appears to be insufficient regulation is social media use by anonymous individuals online. In fairness to the courts, they have showed themselves to perhaps be ahead of the Oireachtas. They developed a mechanism under the common law whereby individuals can apply to the High Court for the purpose of securing a Norwich Pharmacal order. It is much better that we as legislators put in place a statutory scheme, referred to as an identification order, that will enable people to get this information to bring a halt to or seek a remedy for defamatory statements made about them by anonymous individuals online.

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