The Government has published a bill which allows for the creation of an independent press council.
The Defamation Bill was published this evening by Minister for Justice Michael McDowell.
Mr McDowell said the bill would also introduce a new defence of 'fair and reasonable' publication on a matter of public importance.
Another feature of the new bill requires plaintiffs and defendants in a defamation action to submit a sworn affidavit verifying assertions and allegations, and to make themselves available for cross examination.
The torts of libel and slander would disappear under the bill, to be replaced by the single tort of defamation.
A limitation period of one year will apply in relation to the bringing of defamation proceedings unless a longer period of time is considered to be in the interest of justice.
A special defamation jurisdiction limit for the Circuit Court would be set at €50,000 under the bill.
Minister McDowell also published the Privacy Bill which was recently approved by the Cabinet.
The bill would bring Ireland into line with must other common law countries in recognising that people are entitled to a personal sphere of privacy and non-intrusion.
Mr McDowell said that some Government ministers had complained to him of an invasion of their privacy but he did not elaborate.
He said the fact that a person may have a public persona does not eliminate their right to enjoy a certain level of privacy.
