Libel law change "not high priority"

THE Taoiseach indicated that the Government has no immediate plans to amend the libel and defamation laws. "This matter is being considered, but it is not a high priority at this time," Mr Bruton said in the Dail.

He was replying to the PD leader, Ms Harney, who said that the Commission for the Newspaper Industry and the Law Reform Commission had recommended a change in the area. She asked about the Government's intentions "in view of the current interest in libel and defamation".

Mr Michael McDowell (PD, Dublin South East) said there was a Defamation Bill in his name awaiting debate in the House. But the Taoiseach had said that reform of the defamation law was a low priority. "Can I ask the Taoiseach how low a priority is freedom of speech in this society for this Government?"

Mr Bruton said that freedom of speech had a very high priority for the Government, but he thought it was also important that reputations should be protected. And that was also a priority.

When Mr McDowell accused the Taoiseach of deceiving the people on the issue, Mr Bruton replied that Mr McDowell was a weekly columnist in a newspaper and he did not think it entirely: appropriate that he should be promoting the interests of the newspaper in the House.