Lisa McDonald (Fianna Fail)

I also thank the Minister for the time he gave to the Defamation Bill in the House. As the other Senators have said, he has taken a reflective approach taking into consideration the amendments that were given much hard thought and work by the various Senators. We have struck the right balance in the Bill between the person's right to a good name and freedom of expression and speech. A column in one of last Sunday's newspapers suggested that satire in the 1980s was not as much fun as it is now. We have come a long way in the past 20 years in our press and media. That is something we need to cherish because obviously we cannot go back to the way it was.

This Bill, which was long overdue, heralds a new era in defamation law and marks a balance between the media and the public. I think we have struck the right balance. I thank the Minister for attending the House.