Jesus, another referendum on its way -blasphemy

02-10-2014 4:31pm #1

Seems the Irish government are already splashing the money generated from Irish water.

We are set to have another referendum, this time its blasphemy they want to get our votes on!

IRISH VOTERS WILL have be asked to vote on whether to remove the crime of blasphemy from the Constitution, it was announced this morning.
Junior Minister Aodhán Ó’Ríordáin told the Dáil:

The Government accepts the main recommendation of the [Constitutional Convention], which is that a referendum should be held on removing the offence of blasphemy from the Constitution.

Article 40 of the Irish Constitution states that:

The publication or utterance of blasphemous, seditious, or indecent matter is an offence which shall be punishable in accordance with law.
Furthermore, Section 36 of the 2009 Defamation Act outlines a fine of up to €25,000 for anyone convicted of the offence.

http://www.thejournal.ie/ireland-blasphemy-law-referendum-1702243-Oct2014/

Cant wait!:rolleyes:

MonkeyTennis · 02-10-2014 4:32pm

Well,Holy God.

Timberrrrrrrr · 02-10-2014 4:33pm

irishfreeview wrote: »

Seems the Irish government are already splashing the money generated from Irish water.

We are set to have another referendum, this time its blasphemy they want to get our votes on!

http://www.thejournal.ie/ireland-blasphemy-law-referendum-1702243-Oct2014/

Cant wait!:rolleyes:

So we should just keep antiquated laws?

uch · 02-10-2014 4:34pm

Fuking country is Nuts if we have to spend several millions on a Referendum to abolish a fuking Gobbledegook law

GLaDOS · 02-10-2014 4:35pm

It is a bit silly though, in fairness. Unfortunately requires a referendum to change the constitution.

02-10-2014 4:35pm

Jehovah! Jehovah!

I think it's a good step. That ridiculous blasphemy law should never have existed in the first place. Sure, there are more pressing matters they should be dealing with (getting rid of the eighth amendment, for one) but that doesn't negate the importance of this. I'd rather they spend a (relatively small) amount of money on a referendum than keep that antiquated shít in our constitution.

AnonoBoy · 02-10-2014 4:35pm

For the love of Jehovah and by the power of Jesus t*tty-f*cking Christ, what's this all about then?

Donkey Oaty · 02-10-2014 4:35pm

Let's have a vote to ditch all mention of God from the constitution while we're at it.

Temptamperu · 02-10-2014 4:35pm

Its about time.

uch · 02-10-2014 4:36pm

Donkey Oaty wrote: »

Let's have a vote to ditch all mention of God from the constitution while we're at it.

I'd say there'd be a record turnout if that happened

pconn062 · 02-10-2014 4:38pm

This we can have a referendum on, while the government insist on kicking the abortion debate down the road.

02-10-2014 4:39pm

Donkey Oaty wrote: »

Let's have a vote to ditch all mention of God from the constitution while we're at it.

Would be great but I bet you'd still have a lot of idiots voting NO solely as a misguided and useless protest against "teh gubberment".

Draco · 02-10-2014 4:40pm

You are aware that there's been a Constitutional Convention looking at reviewing the constitution for about the last year?

There's going to be at least 3 referendums and more likely 5 next year - on same-sex marriage, voting age, minimum age of presidential candidates, blasphemy and the role of women in the home.

But hey, no problem with having something in the constitution that limits speech because some people think that believing in a sky fairy and not having that challenged is more important.

BoJack Horseman · 02-10-2014 4:40pm

irishfreeview wrote: »

Seems the Irish government are already splashing the money generated from Irish water.

We are set to have another referendum, this time its blasphemy they want to get our votes on!

http://www.thejournal.ie/ireland-blasphemy-law-referendum-1702243-Oct2014/

Cant wait!:rolleyes:

Lots of threads.... Lots of agenda.

Zero solution.

strobe · 02-10-2014 4:40pm

Ah jaysus, surely this could be put on the long finger until we have a few other things to refer (is that the verb for what you do at a referendum..? Referend..? Rendum..?) at the same time?

02-10-2014 4:41pm

pconn062 wrote: »

This we can have a referendum on, while the government insist on kicking the abortion debate down the road.

I think a lot of activists would be left pretty surprised if they got their wish for a referendum.

Red Alert · 02-10-2014 4:43pm

Should bundle it in with the other issues to save money. Is it really that urgent? I mean you could probably cart off the entire clientele of any pub in one night: "ah for jaysus sake ya"...

PopePalpatine · 02-10-2014 4:48pm

The "No" side of this debate for the referendum will be hilarious to watch.

Bongalongherb · 02-10-2014 4:48pm

Sometimes I think I'm living in the twilight-zone with all of this sh!te. There are more pressing issues to deal with than this ancient junk.

Smiles35 · 02-10-2014 4:49pm

I think it's a little silly to get rid of it with all the Islamic stuff going on the last few years.

blue note · 02-10-2014 4:49pm

I'm going to spoil my vote by call god an awful prick. Depending on what way the vote goes I could be in trouble!

BoJack Horseman · 02-10-2014 4:49pm

Red Alert wrote: »

Should bundle it in with the other issues to save money. Is it really that urgent? I mean you could probably cart off the entire clientele of any pub in one night: "ah for jaysus sake ya"...

It probably will be.
The SSM referendum is in 2015, this will probably be done on the same day. (To be divided though).

Fixing a rotten constitution piece by piece should be urgent alright

minotour · 02-10-2014 4:50pm

Can we propose an add-on to remove the sale of alcohol on Sunday mornings ban? If so then i say we go for it!

anncoates · 02-10-2014 4:51pm

A referendum is needed to change constitution.

People criticize governments for disenfranchising people but then when people are given the chance to repeal anachronistic laws, they moan.

I assume they'll probably tack it on to the next election ballot so the cost won't be as much of an issue.

BoJack Horseman · 02-10-2014 4:53pm

anncoates wrote: »

People criticize governments for disenfranchising people but then when people are given the chance to repeal anachronistic laws, they moan.

Indeed.

In the last 4 years we've been twice given the chance to change how politics runs in Ireland & on both occasions we rejected it.

Yet b*tch about politics never changing.

The_Valeyard · 02-10-2014 4:53pm

Sure it will just end up under 'hate speech' laws instead of a the the blasphemy legistation. Rightly so.

uch · 02-10-2014 4:54pm

minotour wrote: »

Can we propose an add-on to remove the sale of alcohol on Sunday mornings ban? If so then i say we go for it!

And Good Friday, Christmas Day

Bongalongherb · 02-10-2014 4:54pm

I've never heard of an Irish person being charged for blasphemy in my lifetime, and I'm ancient.

BoJack Horseman · 02-10-2014 4:54pm

minotour wrote: »

Can we propose an add-on to remove the sale of alcohol on Sunday mornings ban? If so then i say we go for it!

That law can be changed at a moments notice by the Dáil.

Stupidly they prefer nanny state to reign instead.

anncoates · 02-10-2014 4:58pm

Bongalongherb wrote: »

I've never heard of an Irish person being charged for blasphemy in my lifetime, and I'm ancient.

Even if it's a rhetorical point, isn't it still a good thing on principle to see another religious part of the Constitution chipped away?

Or does AH prefer snide trolling of normal Catholics to actually doing something to slowly erode the influence of church on our state?

Bongalongherb · 02-10-2014 5:04pm

anncoates wrote: »

Even if it's a rhetorical point, isn't it still a good thing on principle to see another religious part of the Constitution chipped away?

Or does AH prefer snide trolling of normal Catholics to actually doing something to slowly erode the influence of church on our state?

I'm atheist, so the sooner the better this blasphemy law is discarded the better. I care not for religion in any shape or form.

Jesus, another referendum on its way -blasphemy

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