Minister for Justice Michael McDowell is to bring proposals for a reform of libel laws to Cabinet today, along with a report proposing a new privacy law.
The proposals for the privacy law, drawn up by an expert group of lawyers and civil servants, is believed to advise that a broad privacy law be introduced to reflect recent case law in the European Court of Human rights enshrining the right to privacy, even in public places in certain circumstances, of public individuals, in accordance with Article 8 of the European Convention on Human Rights.
The report of the group, which was chaired by Brian Murray SC, was ordered by Mr McDowell last year following opposition by some Government ministers to defamation reform.
Mr McDowell brought his proposed defamation Bill to Cabinet last June, but withdrew it after a number of Ministers said they were against reform of the defamation laws, unless it was accompanied by new privacy legislation.
Both reforms are expected to be introduced in separate pieces of legislation if approved by Government today. Legislation on the defamation Bill is expected to be published in the coming week, while the report on privacy is also be published, with the introduction of detailed legislation later this year.