Linda Nelson Murray (Fine Gael)

I also appreciate that the Minister is going to look at and take into good consideration what myself and Senator Fitzpatrick have said. We both really do have the interests of small shopkeepers and small businesses at heart. We both work a lot for them in this Chamber. I appreciate that. To go back on what the Minister mentioned about our cases falling, I had a quick look. In 2024, there were 289 cases in Ireland but there was only 209 in the UK where there is ten times the population. Something has worked over there. Something is not working here. I back up what Senator Fitzpatrick has said. I have done a lot of work when it comes from the insurance industry and the insurance companies will not fight cases. They will pay out because it is cheaper to pay €7,000, which is the average payout on a defamation claim, than to have to pay costs of €30,000 to fight it. I totally agree with the Minister that more of these should be fought. Insurance companies should put aside an amount to invest in fighting cases to prove to people that they are not going to win. Unfortunately, they do not do that. I also wish to withdraw my amendment but look forward to working with the Minister on making it better.