ELI5 Freedom of speech

h.bolla

Can someone give me an ELI5 on freedom of speech in Ireland.

I know we are limited with being able quote people/papers by the Sean Sherlock SI

ANd I know there are blasphemey laws which I think can be used to stop someone spreading hatred.

But Im not sure if I have that right or if Im missing anything else (probably am).

Tom Young

An ELI5 is what precisely?

sleepyheadh

Tom Young wrote: »

An ELI5 is what precisely?

explain like I'm 5

Tom Young

OP use search function

sleepyheadh

Tom Young wrote: »

OP use search function

Tom young use Google haha

Tom Young

We don't usually communicate on here with three letter acronyms - to be fair.

Freedom of Expression has been dealt with here before. The OP should use the search function, before I ban someone

Pat Mustard

The first place to look is Article 40 of the Constitution, which deals which the fundamental or basic rights of citizens.

Article 40.6.1.i deals with freedom of expression.

6 1° The State guarantees liberty for the exercise of the following rights, subject to public order and morality: –
i The right of the citizens to express freely their convictions and opinions.

The education of public opinion being, however, a matter of such grave import to the common good, the State shall endeavour to ensure that organs of public opinion, such as the radio, the press, the cinema, while preserving their rightful liberty of expression, including criticism of Government policy, shall not be used to undermine public order or morality or the authority of the State.

The publication or utterance of blasphemous, seditious, or indecent matter is an offence which shall be punishable in accordance with law.

In a nutshell, citizens have rights to freedom of expression, to include freedom of speech. However, these are not absolute rights and may be restricted.

There is a certain amount of censorship in Ireland. You may have heard of s.31 of the Broadcasting Act, which had prohibited RTÉ from broadcasting interviews with Sinn Féin or the IRA.

Also see here for an essay on the subject, which I have not read.

Ken.

Tom Young wrote: »

We don't usually communicate on here with three letter acronyms - to be fair.

Freedom of Expression has been dealt with here before. The OP should use the search function, before I ban someone

Shouldn't that be bibs.

Tom Young

Lol

sleepyheadh

Tom Young wrote: »

Lol

"We don't usually communicate on here with three letter acronyms - to be fair." - Tom Young

Tom Young

Yes, I decided to engage in TLAs, the irony.

sleepyheadh

Tom Young wrote: »

Yes, I decided to engage in TLAs, the irony.

Its a slippery slope man, get out now while you still can!

h.bolla

Tom Young wrote: »

We don't usually communicate on here with three letter acronyms - to be fair.

Freedom of Expression has been dealt with here before. The OP should use the search function, before I ban someone

Well in fairness the most recent thread I can find that deals with this issue almost 3 years old. Im guessing there could have being a lot of changes since then.

Tom Young

There are a few cases alright but too complex for an EIL5 entry

Little CuChulainn

Generally freedom of speech is restricted if it leads to incitement of hatred, harassment or breach of peace.

TimeToShine

Say what you like provided it doesn't get people pissed off at other people.

Does not apply on this website.

hullaballoo

TimeToShine wrote: »

Say what you like provided it doesn't get people pissed off at other people.

Does not apply on this website.

Nice axe. You should grind it some more.

TimeToShine

hullaballoo wrote: »

Nice axe. You should grind it some more.

I didn't mean it that way. You see a lot of people spouting "freedom of speech" on message boards, just pointing out that they're technically not public domain and as such anything you say can be censored.

hullaballoo

TimeToShine wrote: »

I didn't mean it that way. You see a lot of people spouting "freedom of speech" on message boards, just pointing out that they're technically not public domain and as such anything you say can be censored.

Ah, fair enough.

Just my opinion, but your definition of freedom of speech is essentially the way boards rules are used? The main one being that pissing other people off by what you say is not allowed, other than that, work away.

h.bolla

TimeToShine wrote: »

I didn't mean it that way. You see a lot of people spouting "freedom of speech" on message boards, just pointing out that they're technically not public domain and as such anything you say can be censored.

Well I wasnt really thinking online 'freedom of speech' but its an interesting thought all the same that a website is a private emm.... domain? And as such they impose their own rules. Obviously it makes sense but I just never thought about it in so many words.

Just on a similar note, if the website is hosted in say the US and I break an Irish law- say "publication of blasphemeous matter" does that mean since I publised on a US medium Im no longer reprehensible?

I imagine its in a similar vein to having a holiday in Amsterdam and smoking marijuana joints which would be illegal here and then coming back.


(BTW this is all just personal interest- Im not looking for legal help, or in any legal trouble)

conorh91

The topic is way too dense for an ELI5 explanation OP.

The best accessible, up-to-date resource on this is Media Law in Ireland by Eoin Carolan (2010). It covers the whole gamut of free speech and related topics in a way that hungover 17-year old students can understand, so possibly 5-year olds could grasp it too.