Updated to 6 March 2026 (Act No. 3 of 2026 and S.I. No. 69 of 2026)
The effects marked with a red background are not reflected in the most recent Revised Act. To scroll to next the unapplied effect(s), click here.
Defamation Act 2009
No. 31 of 2009
Contents
Commencement
| Section | Commencement/Effective Date Where the commencement and effective dates differ, the effective date is shown below.
|
Commencement Information |
|---|---|---|
| Whole Act | 1 January 2010 | Defamation Act 2009 (Commencement) Order 2009 (S.I. No. 517 of 2009), art. 2 |
Amendments and other effects
| How Affected | Affecting Provision | Affecting Provision Commencement/Effective Date
Where the commencement and effective dates differ, the effective date is shown below.
|
Commencement Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| S. 2 amended | Defamation (Amendment) Act 2026 (2/2026), s. 3 | 1 March 2026 | Defamation (Amendment) Act 2026 (Commencement) Order 2026 (S.I. No. 61 of 2026), art. 2(a) |
| S. 12 substituted | Defamation (Amendment) Act 2026 (2/2026), s. 6 | 1 March 2026 | Defamation (Amendment) Act 2026 (Commencement) Order 2026 (S.I. No. 61 of 2026), art. 2(a) |
| S. 13(2) deleted | Defamation (Amendment) Act 2026 (2/2026), s. 5(1)(a) | 1 March 2026 | Defamation (Amendment) Act 2026 (Commencement) Order 2026 (S.I. No. 61 of 2026), art. 2(a) |
| S. 14(3) amended | Defamation (Amendment) Act 2026 (2/2026), s. 5(1)(b) | 1 March 2026 | Defamation (Amendment) Act 2026 (Commencement) Order 2026 (S.I. No. 61 of 2026), art. 2(a) |
| S. 17(2) amended | Houses of the Oireachtas (Enquiries, Privileges and Procedures) Act 2013 (No. 33 of 2013), ss. 1(2), 132 | 25 September 2013 | Houses of the Oireachtas (Inquiries, Privileges and Procedures) Act 2013 (Commencement) Order 2013 (S.I. No. 362 of 2013), art. 2 |
| S. 17(2)(i) substituted | Defamation (Amendment) Act 2026 (2/2026), s. 7(1)(a) | 1 March 2026 | Defamation (Amendment) Act 2026 (Commencement) Order 2026 (S.I. No. 61 of 2026), art. 2(a) |
| S. 17(2)(j) amended | Family Courts Act 2024 (48/2024), ss. 1(2), 6, schedule 2, ref. 7 | Not yet commenced. Commencement order required under s. 1(2) | |
| S. 17(2)(w) amended | Parole Act 2019 (28/2019), ss. 1(2), 38(a)(i) | 30 July 2021 | Parole Act 2019 (Commencement) Order 2021 (S.I. No. 405 of 2021), art. 2 |
| S. 17(2)(x) inserted | Parole Act 2019 (28/2019), ss. 1(2), 38(a)(ii) | 30 July 2021 | Parole Act 2019 (Commencement) Order 2021 (S.I. No. 405 of 2021), art. 2 |
| S. 17(2)(y) inserted | Parole Act 2019 (28/2019), ss. 1(2), 38(a)(ii) | 30 July 2021 | Parole Act 2019 (Commencement) Order 2021 (S.I. No. 405 of 2021), art. 2 |
| S. 17(4) inserted | Parole Act 2019 (28/2019), ss. 1(2), 38(b) | 30 July 2021 | Parole Act 2019 (Commencement) Order 2021 (S.I. No. 405 of 2021), art. 2 |
| S. 17(4) renumbered as s. 17(5) | Defamation (Amendment) Act 2026 (2/2026), s. 7(1)(b) | 1 March 2026 | Defamation (Amendment) Act 2026 (Commencement) Order 2026 (S.I. No. 61 of 2026), art. 2(a) |
| S. 18(1) amended | Defamation (Amendment) Act 2026 (2/2026), s. 8(1)(a) | 1 March 2026 | Defamation (Amendment) Act 2026 (Commencement) Order 2026 (S.I. No. 61 of 2026), art. 2(a) |
| S. 18(1A) inserted | Defamation (Amendment) Act 2026 (2/2026), s. 8(1)(b) | 1 March 2026 | Defamation (Amendment) Act 2026 (Commencement) Order 2026 (S.I. No. 61 of 2026), art. 2(a) |
| S. 22(5)(b) substituted | Defamation (Amendment) Act 2026 (2/2026), s. 9(1) | 1 March 2026 | Defamation (Amendment) Act 2026 (Commencement) Order 2026 (S.I. No. 61 of 2026), art. 2(a) |
| S. 23(2) amended | Defamation (Amendment) Act 2026 (2/2026), s. 10(1)(a) | 1 March 2026 | Defamation (Amendment) Act 2026 (Commencement) Order 2026 (S.I. No. 61 of 2026), art. 2(a) |
| S. 23(6) inserted | Defamation (Amendment) Act 2026 (2/2026), s. 10(1)(b) | 1 March 2026 | Defamation (Amendment) Act 2026 (Commencement) Order 2026 (S.I. No. 61 of 2026), art. 2(a) |
| S. 26 substituted | Defamation (Amendment) Act 2026 (2/2026), s. 11(1) | 1 March 2026 | Defamation (Amendment) Act 2026 (Commencement) Order 2026 (S.I. No. 61 of 2026), art. 2(a) |
| S. 26A inserted | Defamation (Amendment) Act 2026 (2/2026), s. 12 | 1 March 2026 | Defamation (Amendment) Act 2026 (Commencement) Order 2026 (S.I. No. 61 of 2026), art. 2(a) |
| S. 27A inserted | Defamation (Amendment) Act 2026 (2/2026), s. 13(1) | 1 March 2026 | Defamation (Amendment) Act 2026 (Commencement) Order 2026 (S.I. No. 61 of 2026), art. 2(a) |
| S. 28(2)(a) amended | Defamation (Amendment) Act 2026 (2/2026), s. 14(1)(a) | 1 March 2026 | Defamation (Amendment) Act 2026 (Commencement) Order 2026 (S.I. No. 61 of 2026), art. 2(a) |
| S. 28(6) amended | Defamation (Amendment) Act 2026 (2/2026), s. 14(1)(b) | 1 March 2026 | Defamation (Amendment) Act 2026 (Commencement) Order 2026 (S.I. No. 61 of 2026), art. 2(a) |
| S. 29(1) amended | Defamation (Amendment) Act 2026 (2/2026), s. 15(1) | 1 March 2026 | Defamation (Amendment) Act 2026 (Commencement) Order 2026 (S.I. No. 61 of 2026), art. 2(a) |
| S. 30(2)(a) amended | Defamation (Amendment) Act 2026 (2/2026), s. 16(1)(a) | 1 March 2026 | Defamation (Amendment) Act 2026 (Commencement) Order 2026 (S.I. No. 61 of 2026), art. 2(a) |
| S. 30(2)(b) amended | Defamation (Amendment) Act 2026 (2/2026), s. 16(1)(b), (c) | 1 March 2026 | Defamation (Amendment) Act 2026 (Commencement) Order 2026 (S.I. No. 61 of 2026), art. 2(a) |
| S. 30(2)(c) inserted | Defamation (Amendment) Act 2026 (2/2026), s. 16(1)(c) | 1 March 2026 | Defamation (Amendment) Act 2026 (Commencement) Order 2026 (S.I. No. 61 of 2026), art. 2(a) |
| S. 30(4) amended | Defamation (Amendment) Act 2026 (2/2026), s. 5(1)(c) | 1 March 2026 | Defamation (Amendment) Act 2026 (Commencement) Order 2026 (S.I. No. 61 of 2026), art. 2(a) |
| S. 31(2) deleted | Defamation (Amendment) Act 2026 (2/2026), s. 5(1)(d)(i) | 1 March 2026 | Defamation (Amendment) Act 2026 (Commencement) Order 2026 (S.I. No. 61 of 2026), art. 2(a) |
| S. 31(4)(k) amended | Defamation (Amendment) Act 2026 (2/2026), s. 5(1)(d)(ii) | 1 March 2026 | Defamation (Amendment) Act 2026 (Commencement) Order 2026 (S.I. No. 61 of 2026), art. 2(a) |
| S. 31(8) deleted | Defamation (Amendment) Act 2026 (2/2026), s. 5(1)(d)(iii) | 1 March 2026 | Defamation (Amendment) Act 2026 (Commencement) Order 2026 (S.I. No. 61 of 2026), art. 2(a) |
| S. 32(3) deleted | Defamation (Amendment) Act 2026 (2/2026), s. 5(1)(e) | 1 March 2026 | Defamation (Amendment) Act 2026 (Commencement) Order 2026 (S.I. No. 61 of 2026), art. 2(a) |
| S. 33(1) amended | Defamation (Amendment) Act 2026 (2/2026), s. 17(1) | 1 March 2026 | Defamation (Amendment) Act 2026 (Commencement) Order 2026 (S.I. No. 61 of 2026), art. 2(a) |
| S. 34(1) amended | Defamation (Amendment) Act 2026 (2/2026), s. 18(1) | 1 March 2026 | Defamation (Amendment) Act 2026 (Commencement) Order 2026 (S.I. No. 61 of 2026), art. 2(a) |
| S. 34(4) deleted | Defamation (Amendment) Act 2026 (2/2026), s. 5(1)(f) | 1 March 2026 | Defamation (Amendment) Act 2026 (Commencement) Order 2026 (S.I. No. 61 of 2026), art. 2(a) |
| Part 4A (ss. 34A - 34I) inserted | Defamation (Amendment) Act 2026 (2/2026), s. 19 | ||
| Part 4B (ss. 34J - 34N) inserted | Defamation (Amendment) Act 2026 (2/2026), s. 21 | 1 March 2026 | Defamation (Amendment) Act 2026 (Commencement) Order 2026 (S.I. No. 61 of 2026), art. 2(b) |
| S. 36 repealed | Blasphemy (Abolition of Offences and Related Matters) Act 2019 (43/2019), ss. 4, 5(2) | 17 January 2020 | Blasphemy (Abolition of Offences and Related Matters) Act 2019 (Commencement) Order 2020 (S.I. No. 13 of 2020), art. 2 |
| S. 37 repealed | Blasphemy (Abolition of Offences and Related Matters) Act 2019 (43/2019), ss. 4, 5(2) | 17 January 2020 | Blasphemy (Abolition of Offences and Related Matters) Act 2019 (Commencement) Order 2020 (S.I. No. 13 of 2020), art. 2 |
| S. 45 inserted | Defamation (Amendment) Act 2026 (2/2026), s. 22 | 1 March 2026 | Defamation (Amendment) Act 2026 (Commencement) Order 2026 (S.I. No. 61 of 2026), art. 2(c) |
| Sch. 1 part 1, para 2 deleted | Defamation (Amendment) Act 2026 (2/2026), s. 23(1)(a)(i) | ||
| Sch. 1, pt. 1, para. 11 amended | Defamation (Amendment) Act 2026 (2/2026), s. 23(1)(a)(ii) | ||
| Withdrawal of the United Kingdom from the European Union (Consequential Provisions) Act 2020 (23/2020), ss. 2(1)(i), 127(a)(i) | 31 December 2020 | Withdrawal of the United Kingdom from the European Union (Consequential Provisions) Act 2020 (Parts 17, 18, 19 and 20) (Commencement) Order 2020 (S.I. No. 693 of 2020), art. 2 | |
| Sch. 1, pt. 1, para. 12 amended | Defamation (Amendment) Act 2026 (2/2026), s. 23(1)(a)(iii) | ||
| Withdrawal of the United Kingdom from the European Union (Consequential Provisions) Act 2020 (23/2020), ss. 2(1)(i), 127(a)(ii) | 31 December 2020 | Withdrawal of the United Kingdom from the European Union (Consequential Provisions) Act 2020 (Parts 17, 18, 19 and 20) (Commencement) Order 2020 (S.I. No. 693 of 2020), art. 2 | |
| Sch. 1, pt. 1, para. 13A inserted | Protected Disclosures Act 2014 (No. 14 of 2014) ss. 1(2), 14(2) | 15 July 2014 | Protected Disclosures Act 2014 (Commencement) Order 2014 (S.I. No. 327 of 2014), art. 2 |
| Sch. 1, pt. 2, para. 1 amended | Defamation (Amendment) Act 2026 (2/2026), s. 23(1)(b)(i) | ||
| Withdrawal of the United Kingdom from the European Union (Consequential Provisions) Act 2020 (23/2020), ss. 2(1)(i), 127(b)(i) | 31 December 2020 | Withdrawal of the United Kingdom from the European Union (Consequential Provisions) Act 2020 (Parts 17, 18, 19 and 20) (Commencement) Order 2020 (S.I. No. 693 of 2020), art. 2 | |
| Sch. 1, pt. 2, para. 2 amended | Defamation (Amendment) Act 2026 (2/2026), s. 23(1)(b)(ii) | ||
| Withdrawal of the United Kingdom from the European Union (Consequential Provisions) Act 2020 (23/2020), ss. 2(1)(i), 127(b)(ii) | 31 December 2020 | Withdrawal of the United Kingdom from the European Union (Consequential Provisions) Act 2020 (Parts 17, 18, 19 and 20) (Commencement) Order 2020 (S.I. No. 693 of 2020), art. 2 | |
| Sch. 1, pt. 2, para. 3 amended | Defamation (Amendment) Act 2026 (2/2026), s. 23(1)(b)(iii) | ||
| Withdrawal of the United Kingdom from the European Union (Consequential Provisions) Act 2020 (23/2020), ss. 2(1)(i), 127(b)(iii) | 31 December 2020 | Withdrawal of the United Kingdom from the European Union (Consequential Provisions) Act 2020 (Parts 17, 18, 19 and 20) (Commencement) Order 2020 (S.I. No. 693 of 2020), art. 2 | |
| Sch. 1, pt. 2, para. 4 amended | Defamation (Amendment) Act 2026 (2/2026), s. 23(1)(b)(iv) | ||
| Withdrawal of the United Kingdom from the European Union (Consequential Provisions) Act 2020 (23/2020), ss. 2(1)(i), 127(b)(iv) | 31 December 2020 | Withdrawal of the United Kingdom from the European Union (Consequential Provisions) Act 2020 (Parts 17, 18, 19 and 20) (Commencement) Order 2020 (S.I. No. 693 of 2020), art. 2 |
SIs made under the Act
| Section | SIs made under the Act |
|---|---|
| S. 44 | Defamation Act 2009 (Press Council) Order 2010 (S.I. No. 163 of 2010) |