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Conference to examine Irish defamation law

Law Society Skillnet is holding a CPD defamation conference on 13 October in Blackhall Place.

The event will consider and review the law of defamation in Ireland since the Defamation Act 2009 came into force.

It will also assess the future of defamation law, in the light of the recent publication of the Report of the Review of the Defamation Act 2009, and the preparation of the general scheme of a Defamation (Amendment) Bill.

The conference takes place from 2.30pm to 5pm in the Green Hall at the Law Society.

The fee is €135 and 2.5 general CPD hours are available.

List of speakers

Topics and speakers include:

• A review of current defamation law and the Government report,
• The proposed reforms: the view of the defendant,
• The proposed reforms: the view of an independent barrister,
• A look at the ‘serious harm’ test, how it is applied in England, and the extent to which it might run into constitutional difficulties in Ireland,
• A look at the importance of juries in defamation cases, and a summary of recent case law.

The event will be chaired by Stuart Gilhooly SC (partner, HJ Ward Solicitors and member of Law Society Litigation Committee).

Speakers include:

• Bernard Barton (retired judge of the High Court),
• Paula Mullooly (Director of Legal Affairs, RTÉ, pictured),
• David Phelan (partner, Hayes Solicitors, Dublin),
• Mark Harty SC,
• Professor Neville Cox (Trinity College Dublin).

Conference material will not be available in hard copy on the day of the event. Instead, material will be emailed to delegates in advance of the event.

The conference will be a live, in-person event, and will not be available online or as a recording.