Updated to 18 February 2026 (Act No. 1 of 2026 and S.I. No. 54 of 2026)
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| S. 36 repealed | Blasphemy (Abolition of Offences and Related Matters) Act 2019 (43/2019), ss. 4, 5(2) | 17 January 2020 | Blasphemy (Abolition of Offences and Related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| S. 37 repealed | Blasphemy (Abolition of Offences and Related Matters) Act 2019 (43/2019), ss. 4, 5(2) | 17 January 2020 | Blasphemy (Abolition of Offences and Related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) |