Accusation of filibuster over Defamation Bill

Seanad report: Brian Hayes, Fine Gael leader in the House, demanded to know from the Government whether an organised filibuster…

Seanad report:Brian Hayes, Fine Gael leader in the House, demanded to know from the Government whether an organised filibuster had been in place in relation to the Defamation Bill, to talk it out so that it never got on to the Statute Book. It would be preferable for the House to discuss important matters such as sentencing for rape, if the Government's intention was that the Bill was never going to see the light of day in the Dáil.

David Norris (Ind): "A bloody good thing too."

Mr Hayes said that might be so. "Let's stop doing the sham. Let's say it as it is."

Joe O'Toole (Ind) said that during the debate on the Bill last Wednesday, he had heard discussions on mushrooms, on the commentariat, on pinko extremist commentators and on various other things "which I felt had very little to do with the business in hand, apart from the fact that there was great entertainment between Senator Norris and the Minister [for Justice, Michael McDowell]."

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Brendan Ryan (Lab) said that whatever about the Defamation Bill enduring a de facto filibuster with Government complicity, there was no delay in relation to the way the Pharmacy Bill was being dealt with.

Paul Coghlan (FG) said that for whatever reason, the Bill was quite clearly going nowhere and it was definitely not intended to reach the Dáil before the recess.

Leader of the House Mary O'Rourke said she knew nothing about an organised filibuster.

Mr Hayes: "Does the Government want it to come to a conclusion?"

Mrs O'Rourke: "I am sure they do. They never told me they didn't."

Mr Hayes: "Then it's a sub-plot."

Mrs O'Rourke said that yesterday's Irish Times had devoted much space to the musings of Mr Norris and the musings-back of Mr McDowell.

She was not aware of any filibuster in relation to the debate. "I am getting a bit tired listening to it, actually." She did not know if the Bill would go to the Dáil.

On Wednesday, Mr McDowell had spoken critically of Irish Times columnists Fintan O'Toole and Vincent Browne: "We should not be distracted by columnists who normally get things wrong."