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Northern Ireland decides not to follow English and Welsh libel reforms Northern Ireland decides not to follow English and Welsh libel reforms
(3 months later)
Northern Ireland has decided not to implement historic reforms to libel legislation that were passed into law in England and Wales after a three-year campaign by Lord Lester and Lord McNally.Northern Ireland has decided not to implement historic reforms to libel legislation that were passed into law in England and Wales after a three-year campaign by Lord Lester and Lord McNally.
Sammy Wilson, Northern Ireland minister for finance and personnel, has written to McNally to say he has "no plans to review the law on defamation in Northern Ireland".Sammy Wilson, Northern Ireland minister for finance and personnel, has written to McNally to say he has "no plans to review the law on defamation in Northern Ireland".
This means that newspapers which publish across the UK – and bloggers – could still face libel tourism claims and threats of legal action by big companies trying to stifle free speech in Northern Ireland.This means that newspapers which publish across the UK – and bloggers – could still face libel tourism claims and threats of legal action by big companies trying to stifle free speech in Northern Ireland.
Lester has now launched a campaign to persuade Northern Ireland to implement the new laws, which were passed by parliament in April with all-party support.Lester has now launched a campaign to persuade Northern Ireland to implement the new laws, which were passed by parliament in April with all-party support.
In a House of Lords debate on the matter on Thursday Lord Lester said it would be "a stain on the reputation of Northern Ireland if it were to replace London as the libel tourist capital by clinging to archaic and uncertain common law – great for the vested interests of wealthy claimants and their lawyers in Belfast but wholly against the public."In a House of Lords debate on the matter on Thursday Lord Lester said it would be "a stain on the reputation of Northern Ireland if it were to replace London as the libel tourist capital by clinging to archaic and uncertain common law – great for the vested interests of wealthy claimants and their lawyers in Belfast but wholly against the public."
He reminded the house that the UK has the power to impose legislation on northern ireland whether it was devolved issue or not.He reminded the house that the UK has the power to impose legislation on northern ireland whether it was devolved issue or not.
He said that all those who signed the Good Friday Agreement dedicated themselves to "the protection and vindication of the human rights of all" and questioned whether Wilson's letter had been "cleared" by his Sinn Fein coalition partners.He said that all those who signed the Good Friday Agreement dedicated themselves to "the protection and vindication of the human rights of all" and questioned whether Wilson's letter had been "cleared" by his Sinn Fein coalition partners.
Lester warned: "If libel law in Northern Ireland remains unreformed, its chilling effects will interfere with the fundamental rights not only of those who seek to publish information and opinions on matters of public interest and concern, but also everyone living within Northern Ireland and the rest of the UK."Lester warned: "If libel law in Northern Ireland remains unreformed, its chilling effects will interfere with the fundamental rights not only of those who seek to publish information and opinions on matters of public interest and concern, but also everyone living within Northern Ireland and the rest of the UK."
Baroness Randerson, the Lords spokesperson for the Northern Ireland office said the government in London did not consider it right on this occasion to impose legislation on the province which is "in a period of transition".Baroness Randerson, the Lords spokesperson for the Northern Ireland office said the government in London did not consider it right on this occasion to impose legislation on the province which is "in a period of transition".
She added: "We need to resist the temptation to takeover whenever we have a sense of frustration."She added: "We need to resist the temptation to takeover whenever we have a sense of frustration."
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