Northern Ireland: Defamation Act 2013

Debate between Lord Caine and Lord Stewart of Dirleton

Monday 11th January 2021 Lords Chamber

[Lord Stewart of Dirleton (Con)]

In my view, my Lords, commitment to the union is not best expressed by railroading the devolved Assembly into a particular course of action.

[Lord Caine (Con)]

My Lords, does the fact that, uniquely in these islands, Northern Ireland has a Government but currently no Official Opposition not place an even greater burden on journalists to scrutinise Ministers and hold them to account? To do that effectively, they need the same legal framework and protections as those in the rest of the United Kingdom. Would not the quickest route to achieving that be for the Northern Ireland Assembly to get behind the Private Member’s Bill on this matter that is shortly to be introduced by my Ulster Unionist colleague Mike Nesbitt?

[Lord Stewart of Dirleton (Con)]

My Lords, freedom of expression and the ability to hold Ministers to account on matters of public interest are of course of the greatest importance, and I am sure that the Northern Ireland Assembly will wish to consider the position carefully in considering that Private Member’s Bill and any measures that the Northern Ireland Executive may themselves bring forward.