The State's laws on journalists protecting their sources were "draconian and out of line with other jurisdictions," Mr Willie O'Dea (FF, Limerick East) claimed. Mr O'Dea noted that Paragraph 56 of the Programme for Government stated that the Government would "examine the possibility of legislating to enable journalists to protect the confidentiality of their sources in certain circumstances."

Asked by Mr O'Dea if the Government intended doing anything about the matter, the Tanaiste, Mr Spring, said that its consideration was not yet completed.