Frank Fahey (Galway West, Fianna Fail)

Essentially, if the plaintiff wants a quick fix, as it were, he or she will seek a declaratory order. That is his or her choice. If he or she wants to prove defamation, he or she will choose another approach. Section 26 provides for this more expeditious remedy to the applicant where an allegedly defamatory statement has been published and the court is satisfied it is so, and that the respondent has no defence to the application.