(1) Subject to sections 17(1) and 18(1), any defence that, immediately before the commencement of this Part, could have been pleaded as a defence in an action for libel or slander is abolished.

(2) In this section -

"defence" shall not include a defence under -

(a) statute,

(b) an act of the institutions of the European Communities, or

(c) regulations made for the purpose of giving effect to an act of the institutions of the European Communities;

"European Communities" has the same meaning as it has in the European Communities Act 1972;

"statute" means -

(a) an Act of the Oireachtas, or