The government's been asked to make an urgent statement to show support for media, and defend the right to free speech.

Social Democrat TD Roisin Shortall says the latest developments surrounding businessman Denis O'Brien are of grave concern to publishers of all sorts.

She has also called for an update to Ireland's defamation laws, following threats by the businessman to bring legal proceedings against the Waterford Whispers website.

The website has deleted an article published yesterday, referencing the businessman, which his lawyers said was a "malicious and deliberate defamation".

A media lawyer has said the case highlights the legal situation for publishers where satire cannot be cited as a defence against publishing defamatory material.

Our political correspondent Gavan Reilly filed this report for Today FM's National Lunchtime News: