In Schedule 1 to the Northern Ireland (Elections) Act 1998 (the Assembly), for paragraph 8 substitute—

“8

(1)

For the purposes of the law of defamation, absolute privilege shall attach to—

(a)

the making of a statement in proceedings of the Assembly; and

(b)

the publication of a statement under the Assembly’s authority.

(2)

In this paragraph “statement” has the same meaning as in the Defamation Act 1996.”