Defamation (Amendment) Bill 2024: Committee Stage (Resumed)
Seanad Éireann — 2025-12-03
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Jim O'Callaghan (FF), Dublin Bay South

There is another avenue available to parties before defamation proceedings in the courts, in that the terms of the Mediation Act will apply to them. I do not have that Act in front of me but its provisions could be something a court could rely on for the purpose of trying to encourage parties to engage in mediation. I note the Senator's point about the specified ADR procedures and how the provisions may be limited to members of the Press Council. Notwithstanding that, the court has the power, under the Mediation Act, to adjourn proceedings and recommend parties go to mediation, which is the primary form of ADR. I will give consideration to the Senator's point but I think the laws that exist at present, on enactment, will be broad enough to cover parties who are not members of the Press Council.

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Record URI: https://data.oireachtas.ie/akn/ie/debateRecord/seanad/2025-12-03/debate/main
Retrieved: 2026-08-14T04:54:25+00:00
Sitting date: 2025-12-03