David Norris (Independent)

I thank the Minister for his clarification. My objection is to the idea that at the time of the publication statement, the defendant believed in the truth of opinion or, where the defendant is not the author of the opinion but believed the author believed it to be true. However, I see that is subject to subsection (3), and that is the one I had difficulty with because I do not believe it is sufficiently clear. Nonetheless, the Minister makes a reasonable case as regards opinion based on clear fact. That makes it somewhat less obnoxious, even to me. Perhaps the Minister might look again at redrafting subsection (3), however.