Eugene Regan (Fine Gael)

I am concerned about section 20(5)(b) which, referring an offer to make amends means an offer, "to publish that correction and apology in such manner as is reasonable and practicable in the circumstances,". There is often a major dispute about the form of the apology. In many cases the apology is printed in the corner of page 10 whereas the defamation was published on top fold of the front page. Could the language in this subsection be tightened up, for example, by the inclusion of a phrase such as "commensurate with the prominence given to the original publication" or otherwise?