Despite the arguments noted yesterday from Eoin O’Dell, the Irish Times reports that President Mary McAleese has signed the Defamation Bill 2006 and the Criminal Justice (Amendment) Bill 2009 into law. Time for that blasphemous statement, Michael! Adds Eoin has been waiting patiently..
With perhaps the longest title of any book I’ve read this year, The Media Relations Department of Hizbollah Wishes You a Happy Birthday: Unexpected Encounters in the Changing Middle East gives an insight into the lives of people living in Middle East through the eyes of journalist Neil MacFarquhar. MacFarquhar’s father was a chemical engineer [...] read our review »
Which reminds me…. Platform for Change’s driving force Robin Wilson has produced a corrective to the notion that the lessons of the NI conflict are easily exportable. Like myself, Robin is associated with the Constitution Unit. He introduced his new book in a CU blog which I here reproduce. The water crisis in Northern Ireland [...] read our review »
More as a trailer than a review – as it’s out on Thursday– I draw attention to Fintan O’Toole’s latest polemic “Enough is Enough – how to build a new Republic“. Fintan has been promoting the book vigorously on this side of the water, on Radio 4’s Start the Week and here at greater length [...] read our review »
I’m not sure if how the law can actually be applied or nto is really much different form the UK incitement laws, but really, that’s a sad day for a Republic.
I have to say I’m glad the President didn’t refer the bills as that means that, if the Supreme Court ruled the bills as constitutional, they would never be open to constitutional challenge, regardless of what situation arose in the future.
Now at least with no Article 26 reference, they can be challenged on an ongoing basis going forward.
Good point, George.