Northern Ireland: Defamation Law

Debate between Viscount Younger of Leckie and Lord Lester of Herne Hill

Wednesday 14th October 2015 Lords Chamber

[Lord Lester of Herne Hill (LD)]

My Lords, is there not a serious risk that the present ludicrous position might violate the European human rights convention guarantee of free speech and equality, which is written into the Northern Ireland Act and which the Secretary of State ought to ensure is complied with? Is it not the case, therefore, that the Government have it within their power, if they so wish, to impose equal protection of a fundamental right across the Irish Sea in Northern Ireland?

[Viscount Younger of Leckie]

I am aware that the noble Lord put in an awful lot of work to the Defamation Act, but I have referred already to the Sewel convention. It is up to the Northern Ireland Executive to decide whether the rules remain within the ECHR.