Michael McDowell (Dublin South East, Progressive Democrats)

Amendment No. 6 to section 16 and amendment No. 7 to section 18 are technical drafting amendments. Amendment No. 8 to section 18, which provides for the defence of honest opinion, ensures that the reference in that section to section 16 on the defence of qualified privilege should be in accordance with all of section 16 and not limited to subsection 16(2).