Ireland goes back to historic beginnings
On Thursday 9th of July, the Government made a decision to uphold Blasphemy as a statutory crime within the Irish constitution. The decision was made to keep the blasphemy section within the constitution and set the maximum fee at Î25,000.
Blasphemy became a statutory crime in 1961 as part of the defamation bill but even then was not enforceable as it had no clear definition. Why are the Government pushing a law that is virtually unenforceable and hold’s no place in today’s Ireland? It is inconceivable to think that Ireland is the same place it was 50 years ago. The Ireland known for its strong religious ethos is long gone and it is about time the constitution represented that move.
In order for Blasphemy to be removed from the constitution a referendum would have to be held. Rather than hold a referendum, putting the decision in the hands of the people of Ireland, the Government have made the decision for us. The Blasphemy law is a wayward, backward constraint on freedom of expression and should be removed. Why should religious beliefs be protected above political or scientific ones? Both of these issues should be decided by the public and the best time to do that is on October 2nd during the Lisbon referendum.
On Thursday 9th of July, the Government made a decision to uphold Blasphemy as a statutory crime within the Irish constitution. The decision was made to keep the blasphemy section within the constitution and set the maximum fee at Î25,000.
Blasphemy became a statutory crime in 1961 as part of the defamation bill but even then was not enforceable as it had no clear definition. Why are the Government pushing a law that is virtually unenforceable and hold’s no place in today’s Ireland? It is inconceivable to think that Ireland is the same place it was 50 years ago. The Ireland known for its strong religious ethos is long gone and it is about time the constitution represented that move.
In order for Blasphemy to be removed from the constitution a referendum would have to be held. Rather than hold a referendum, putting the decision in the hands of the people of Ireland, the Government have made the decision for us. The Blasphemy law is a wayward, backward constraint on freedom of expression and should be removed. Why should religious beliefs be protected above political or scientific ones? Both of these issues should be decided by the public and the best time to do that is on October 2nd during the Lisbon referendum.
