Updated to 16 September 2025 (Act No. 10 of 2025 and S.I. No. 431 of 2025)
All effects below are reflected in the most recent Revised Act.
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. 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)(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| S. 36 repealed | Blasphemy (Abolition of Offences and Related Matters) Act 2019 (43/2019), ss. 4, 5(2) | 17 January 2020 | Blasphemy (Abolition of Offences and Related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| S. 37 repealed | Blasphemy (Abolition of Offences and Related Matters) Act 2019 (43/2019), ss. 4, 5(2) | 17 January 2020 | Blasphemy (Abolition of Offences and Related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 |
| Sch. 1, pt. 1, para. 11 amended | 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 | 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 | 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 | 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 | 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 | 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) |