Vincent P Martin (Green Party) | Oireachtas source

The Minister of State is welcome to the Chamber. The points have been well covered by my fellow Senators. I note the Minister of State said that he would monitor the situation to ensure there is no unintended consequence of this initiative. It is not so much a question of whether to SLAPP or not to SLAPP; it is a question of what a SLAPP is and could it ever be used in a situation that may be inappropriate. On the balance of advantages versus disadvantages, I believe the motivation behind this directive is well intended.It is to protect people who may not have a bottomless pit of funds so that their voices can be heard in court. It is to protect those who may not be able to withstand a deliberate assault - metaphorically speaking - causing a chilling effect. While I am happy to support the motion, it is something we should continue to monitor on a regular basis. There are mechanisms in place in our courts. If there is a particular serial litigant we can seek an Isaac Wunder order. There is a long-established right to go to court on notice to the other side with an application that it is bound to fail if a matter is vexatious with no grounds whatsoever. The motion is something I will keep an open mind on. I believe the intention is good. The remarks of the Minister of State on behalf of the Minister for Justice were well made.