From the Irish Times breaking news site:
President McAleese signs controversial Bills into law
President Mary McAleese has this morning signed the Defamation Bill 2006 and the Criminal Justice (Amendment) Bill 2009 into law. …
Updates: from RTÉ news: President signs controversial bills into law; and from the Irish Times: Ahern welcomes Bills’ enactment; see also Belfast Telegraph | BreakingNews.ie | CCJHR blog | IrelandOnline | Irish Election | New Humanist | New York Times | Press Association | Slugger O’Toole | Tribune.ie. Further update: it’s now listed on the official list of Acts signed by President McAleese, as the Defamation Act, 2009 (No 31 of 2009) / An tAcht Um Chlúmhilleadh, 2009 (Uimhir 31 de 2009).
In a press release, the Minister for Justice welcomed both enactments, and he had this to say about the new Defamation Act, 2009:
Modernisation of our Defamation law is now complete on the enactment of the Bill. I believe the legislation in what is a complex area strikes the right balance in the public interest.
For Michael Nugent, the campaign to repeal the new blasphemy law begins now.
Be honest. Is anyone really surprised?
Not surprised, no; but there was a brief period where we could hope that she would not have.