![Garda Commissioner Drew Harris greets Minister for Justice Jim O'Callaghan at Irishtown Garda station. Mr O’Callaghan said the defamation Bill would be passed, saying: 'I don’t see any significant changes [to the Bill].' Photograph: Gráinne Ni Aodha/PA Wire](https://www.irishtimes.com/resizer/v2/WTJQ7HXUSHKMORTDZ6CPKGXBV4.jpg?auth=95b0c59b82f6ad9eba5a77b09e62c1dc5b7c8fa10e3b9cc3098731fd4e9ae35f&smart=true&width=1024&height=660)
Proposed legislation to reform Ireland’s defamation laws is among Bills set to be revived by the Government for progression in the new Dáil.
Taoiseach Micheál Martin briefed the Cabinet on Wednesday about plans to restore 11 proposed laws to the Dáil order paper.
Legislation that has not passed all stages in the Houses of the Oireachtas lapses with the dissolution of the Dáil but it can be restored by the new Government.
Changes to Ireland’s defamation regime have been long sought after by the media, with newspapers and other outlets arguing that Ireland’s libel laws are a threat to media freedom.
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The abolition of juries for High Court defamation actions and measures to reduce legal costs for those involved are among measures in the Defamation (Amendment) Bill 2024.
The programme for government commits to restoring the Defamation Bill to the order paper and to “make passing the legislation a priority”.
When serving as a backbencher in the last government, the new Minister for Justice Jim O’Callaghan described the removal of juries from High Court defamation actions as “short-sighted” and “not fully thought out”.
However, Mr O’Callaghan last week referred to the Government’s commitment that the legislation would be passed, saying: “It will be done.” He also said: “I don’t see any significant changes [to the Bill].”
Other Bills to be restored to the Dáil order paper include the Health Information Bill 2024, aimed at providing a clear legal basis for the establishment of digital health records for patients; the Consulting Safety Licensing Bill 2023.
The Mental Health Bill, which covers a range of areas including provisions related to the admission and discharge of patients from hospitals and their care, will also be progressed.
The Supports for Survivors of Residential Institutional Abuse Bill 2024 aimed at bringing in enhanced supports for survivors of abuse in residential institutions will also be restored to the order paper.
Separately, Mr O’Callaghan got Cabinet approval for Ireland to opt in to European Union negotiations on a proposed youth experience scheme with the UK.
The European Commission is examining a potential deal with the UK to give young people from the EU the right to live temporarily in the UK and vice versa.
The commission has said that any agreement will not impact on the Common Travel Area (CTA) between Ireland and the UK.
A Government spokesman said “Ireland sees the merit in opting in so it can have a role in shaping negotiations to ensure the full complexities of the CTA are represented.”
Minister for Public Expenditure Jack Chambers briefed colleagues the overall gross expenditure of €103.7 billion by Government departments in 2024.
This was €9 billion or 9.5 per cent higher than 2023.
The increase in spending was put down to a number of factors including the cost-of-living package in the budget and meeting economic, social and climate ambitions.
Elsewhere, Tánaiste and Fine Gael leader Simon Harris told his parliamentary party that Ireland has to be better prepared to deal with future severe storms.
His remarks come after Storm Éowyn left hundreds of thousands of homes without power, many for a prolonged period.
He also encouraged party colleagues to bring forward proposals on speaking rights in the Dáil.
It comes after the huge row over speaking rights for Independent TDs backing the Government.
Mr Harris said all Fine Gael backbench TDs had a right to speak in the chamber and proposals from the parliamentary party were needed to increase that privilege.
He also informed colleagues he would be establishing a commission on the renewal of the Fine Gael party in coming weeks.
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