asked the Minister for Justice whether the law of defamation and the legal practice and procedure in defamation cases require reform; and if he will outline his proposals in this regard.

The Attorney General, under section 4 (2) (c) of the Law Reform Commission Act, 1975, referred the question of reform of the law of defamation to the Law Reform Commission for examination earlier this year. The commission invited submissions from the public on the subject. I understand that the commission subsequently met with a number of bodies involved in the publishing industry, and that a discussion paper on the subject is likely to be published by the commission early next year. The Department of Justice will consider the matter in detail when the commission's final recommendations have been received.

I have two questions. First, have the Government given any consideration to the conclusions and recommendations of the press freedom and libel report produced by the national newspapers of Ireland and, secondly, have the Government considered the recommendations to abolish criminal libel to provide a statutory definition of defamation, to overhaul existing defences or to examine the practices and procedures from the point of view of giving practical criteria on which to assess damages? Are the Government sitting on their hands while awaiting the Law Reform Commission report?

As I have said in the reply, the Attorney General has referred the question to the Law Reform Commission. Apart from inviting submissions they will be taking into consideration the various documents to which the Deputy has referred.