Eugene Regan (Fine Gael)

I respectfully disagree with the Minister. The matter should be left to the courts because there is at issue here the interpretation of the Constitution and the balancing of the rights of freedom of expression and privacy. This is the fundamental reason it is not appropriate at this juncture to insert the defence. This does not negate the evolution of the common law and jurisprudence. The defence as formulated here is rather crude in the circumstances. I propose to press the amendment.