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LIBEL LAW (NORTHERN IRELAND)

EDM (Early Day Motion) 2594: tabled on 08 July 2019

Tabled in the 2017-19 session.

This motion has been signed by 4 Members. It has not yet had any amendments submitted.

Motion text

That this House applauds the success of the Defamation Act 2013 in deterring opportunistic and vexatious libel claims in England and Wales; regrets that the Northern Ireland Assembly's refusal to extend that act to Northern Ireland has had the predicted effect of making the province a forum for libel bullies; expresses its concern on the suppression of free speech in Northern Ireland by aggressive legal targeting of newspapers and users of social media; notes that politicians have become active in pursuing media and individuals for financial redress over expressions of opinion which has led to a climate of fear which is referred to as lawfare; applauds the writer Ruth Dudley Edwards for encouraging transparency by going public on social media about a solicitor's letter she has received on behalf of a senior member of Sinn Fein demanding the removal of two tweets and the payment of compensation and legal fees; and strongly urges the Government to resolve the anomaly in the Northern Ireland libel law by extending the Defamation Act 2013 to the province.

The first 6 Members who have signed to support the motion are the sponsors. The primary sponsor is generally the person who tabled the motion and has responsibility for it. The date shown is when the Member signed the motion.

There are no withdrawn signatures for this motion.