Our annual Dispute Resolution Conference focused on two of the most closely watched developments in Irish litigation: defamation reform and third-party litigation funding. These topics are not only shaping the legal landscape but also influencing how individuals and organisations approach risk, strategy and reputation management.

The keynote was delivered by Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration, Jim O’Callaghan TD, who spoke about the reforms set out in the Defamation (Amendment) Bill 2024.

Attendees also heard insights from some of the country’s leading legal practitioners and commentators.

Read the Conference Key Takeaways

Audience Survey

Our audience poll found that there is near unanimous support for judges over juries in defamation cases. Almost all (95%) of 140 respondents said they considered a judge would deliver more predictable outcomes on liability and damages.

The same percentage believe businesses are more vulnerable to reputational damage in the current digital media landscape. Two thirds (65%) also said that current defamation laws fail to strike the right balance between freedom of expression and protecting reputation.

Read the Full Survey Results

Panel Discussions

Panel 1: Defamation Reform and the Digital Era

Watch the key highlights of our first panel discussion above. With thanks to our panellists:

• Eoin McCullough SC
• Caren Geoghegan SC
• Eimear O'Brien, Of Counsel, MHC
• Moderated by Gerard Kelly SC, Partner, Mason Hayes & Currran

Panel 2: The Case for Litigation Funding in Ireland?

Catch up on the key takeaways from our second panel discussion. Many thanks to our panellists:

• Emily Egan McGrath SC
• Rory Kirrane SC, Partner, Mason Hayes & Curran
• Colin Monaghan, Partner, Mason Hayes & Curran
• Moderated by the Honorable Justice Frank Clarke

Our Dispute Resolution Team