Defamation Act 2009

Number 31 of 2009

DEFAMATION ACT 2009

REVISED

Updated to 30 July 2021

This Revised Act is an administrative consolidation of the Defamation Act 2009. It is prepared by the Law Reform Commission in accordance with its function under the Law Reform Commission Act 1975 (3/1975) to keep the law under review and to undertake revision and consolidation of statute law.

All Acts up to and including the Climate Action and Low Carbon Development (Amendment) Act 2021 (32/2021), enacted 23 July 2021, and all statutory instruments up to and including the Parole Act 2019 (Commencement) Order 2021 (S.I. No. 405 of 2021), made 29 July 2021, were considered in the preparation of this Revised Act.

Disclaimer: While every care has been taken in the preparation of this Revised Act, the Law Reform Commission can assume no responsibility for and give no guarantees, undertakings or warranties concerning the accuracy, completeness or up to date nature of the information provided and does not accept any liability whatsoever arising from any errors or omissions. Please notify any errors, omissions and comments by email to

Civil Liability Act 1961	1961, No. 41
Civil Liability and Courts Act 2004	2004, No. 31
Commissions of Investigation Act 2004	2004, No. 23
Committees of the Houses of the Oireachtas (Compellability, Privileges and Immunities of Witnesses) Act 1997	1997, No. 17
Committees of the Houses of the Oireachtas (Privilege and Procedure) Act 1976	1976, No. 10
Courts (Supplemental Provisions) Act 1961	1961, No. 39
Courts Act 1991	1991, No. 20
Courts of Justice Act 1924	1924, No. 10
Defamation Act 1961	1961, No. 40
European Communities Act 1972	1972, No. 27
Irish Takeover Panel Act 1997	1997, No. 5
Statute of Limitations 1957	1957, No. 6
Tribunals of Inquiry (Evidence) Acts 1921 to 2004

Revised Acts

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Defamation Act 2009