Strategic Lawsuits Against Public Participation Bill 2026: Second Stage Dail Éireann — 2026-09-29 ============================================================ Paula Butterly (FG), Louth I welcome the opportunity to speak on this Bill as it goes to the very heart of our democracy. It concerns freedom of expression, the right of citizens to speak out on matters of public interest and the ability of journalists, campaigners, whistleblowers and community activists to hold those with deep pockets to account without fear of being dragged into costly and intimidating legal proceedings. We all recognise that every person has the right to their good name and reputation. Indeed, it is enshrined in our Constitution and must always be protected. However, we must also recognise that legal proceedings can sometimes be weaponised. They can be used not as a genuine means of seeking justice but as a tool to silence criticism, suppress scrutiny and discourage participation in public debate. For example, a journalist investigating corruption, a local resident raising environmental concerns, a survivor speaking out about wrongdoing or a community group challenging a powerful interest may ultimately win their case, but even when they are right, the mere threat of years of litigation, substantial legal costs and overwhelming stress can be enough to silence them. In a healthy democracy, and thankfully Ireland is still a healthy democracy, the truth should never be drowned out by the deepest pockets. The purpose of this legislation is therefore straightforward. It seeks to identify cases that are abusive in nature and allow courts to deal with them in an efficient manner. This legislation introduces mechanisms for the early dismissal of manifestly unfounded proceedings and provides protections for people engaged in public participation. It also allows courts to make appropriate cost orders and other remedies where proceedings are found to be abusive. Very importantly, and I welcome the fact, there is recognition that public participation is essential to democratic life. Public participation is not limited to newspapers or broadcasters. It includes community activists campaigning for safer neighbourhoods. It includes parents advocating for better services for their children. It includes environmental groups raising concerns about developments in their community. It includes victims, survivors and whistleblowers who speak out in the public interest. All of these people play an invaluable role in our society and, far from being discouraged, they should be encouraged and protected. As legislators, we should be especially conscious of the pressures faced by local campaigners and ordinary citizens. Large corporations, wealthy individuals and powerful organisations often have access to significant legal resources. Ordinary citizens generally do not. This imbalance is obvious. Where one side can absorb years of legal costs, the other cannot. Access to justice therefore becomes unequal. Thankfully, this Bill seeks to restore that balance. I also welcome the protection it provides for responsible journalism and, as we know, responsible journalism does not necessarily have a voice in some parts of this world. A free and independent press is one of the cornerstones of democratic accountability. Investigative journalism has exposed corruption, uncovered wrongdoing, highlighted failures in public services and given a voice to those who might otherwise have been silent. When journalists are threatened with meritless lawsuits simply because they are doing their jobs, democracy suffers, as do we. That is why Ireland has been encouraged for a number of years by media organisations, civil society groups and international bodies to strengthen protections against SLAPPs. The Government has acknowledged that SLAPPs pose significant challenges to press freedom and democratic debate and that measures are required to prevent misuse of the legal system. Importantly, this legislation does not remove anyone's legitimate right to take legal action where they have genuinely been defamed or harmed. Genuine claims can and should continue to proceed through the courts. The objective is not to weaken access to justice and to our courts but to prevent the abuse of the justice system. That distinction is absolutely critical. We must always strike an appropriate balance between protecting reputation and protection freedom of expression. Those rights are not mutually exclusive. In fact, they reinforce one another when supported by a fair legal framework. The challenge for legislators is to ensure the law cannot be manipulated as a means of intimidation. The safeguards provided in this legislation are, therefore, proportionate and necessary. They recognise the threat of litigation can itself become the punishment, even in cases where the underlying claims lack merit. By allowing courts to intervene earlier, the legislation reduces that risk that defendants are forced into lengthy and expensive legal battles simply to vindicate their right to speak on matters of public concern. This strength of any democracy can be measured by how willing it is to tolerate scrutiny, criticism and debate. Democracies do not fear questions. They do not punish those who seek accountability. Democracies depend upon informed citizens engaging openly, freely and honestly in public life. The people we seek to protect through this legislation are often those who shine a light where others would prefer to stay in the darkness. They ask the difficult questions, challenge the established interests and advocate for transparency and accountability. They are not enemies of democracy. They are, in fact, its strongest defenders. For this reason, I believe the Bill represents an important and necessary reform. I, therefore, welcome this legislation and look forward to its implementation. --- Source: Houses of the Oireachtas. Licensed under CC BY 4.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/). The Official Report is revised after first publication; the fetch timestamp below identifies the version quoted. Record URI: https://data.oireachtas.ie/akn/ie/debateRecord/dail/2026-09-29/debate/main Retrieved: 2026-10-05T01:00:59+00:00 Sitting date: 2026-09-29