In the last year, there have been calls from media organisations for a review of and changes to the defamation laws in Ireland. I understand that the Department of Justice and Equality opened a review of the Defamation Act 2009 in November 2016 with an invitation for submissions. More than two years later, can it be clarified if the report on that review has been completed? Has it been submitted to the Government? My understanding is that a number of suggestions have been made for reform of the Defamation Act 2009. Will the Taoiseach indicate where stands that review and will the Government legislate in this area?

It has not been submitted to the Government yet. I am not quite sure of the status of the report. I am advised that the draft report, with options, is due to be submitted to the Minister for Justice and Equality, Deputy Flanagan, in January. I imagine that we will have the report in January 2019. After the Minister has had a chance to review it, it will come to Cabinet with a view to publication. As is always the case, and I know Deputy Howlin will agree with me on this, defamation is always a bad thing. We do not want to make it easier for people to be defamed, so we need to find the right balance between protecting the free press, and ensuring we have a free press in Ireland, and ensuring we do not make it easier to defame people and trash their reputations. I do not think that would be a good thing either. We need to make sure we get the balance right.