Micheal Martin, Irish Minister for Foreign Affairs, opposing attempts by Islamic States to make defamation of religion a crime at UN level, 2009:
“We believe that the concept of defamation of religion is not consistent with the promotion and protection of human rights. It can be used to justify arbitrary limitations on, or the denial of, freedom of expression. Indeed, Ireland considers that freedom of expression is a key and inherent element in the manifestation of freedom of thought and conscience and as such is complementary to freedom of religion or belief.”
Just months after Minister Martin made this comment, his colleague Dermot Ahern introduced Ireland’s new blasphemy law.
(via Blasphemy.ie)
Passive Impressions 
That picture actually did make me laugh out loud. But the point in your post is well made.
I wonder if it’s a pure coincidence that blasphemy.ie in unable to access…?
I possess a severe disliking for religious fundamentalists and their intolerance. I f I did believe in Lucifer I’d ask them to go visit him and stay there for eternal times.
The rest of us should probably get a better life without them.
Do the laws define what religion is? Could comments seen to be insulting towards Scientologists, followers of Kaballah and (heaven forbid) fundamentalist Atheists be punishable?
I would be very interested to hear any comments the Green party have made defending the introduction of this archaic nonsense on their watch.
Few have been more critical of religious organizations over the years than Jehovah’s Witnesses. Yet they are universally recognized as a nonviolent people. They’re ‘weapons’ are words only.
Would that all followed that example. Then you could have groups of uncompromising principles existing side by side with like groups espousing different principles. And you wouldn’t need laws such as this one, which carry so much potential for abuse.
It’s the only practical way in a pluralistic society.
This is indeed very alarming.
I don’t quite understand where this is coming from though.
At first, I suspected the religious right being behind this. But then I actually read the law, re:
“publishing or uttering matter that is grossly abusive or insulting in relation to matters held sacred by any religion, thereby intentionally causing outrage among a substantial number of adherents of that religion, with some defences permitted”.
I’m no longer sure – this sounds more like initiative coming from the left.
Which is it?
Well, apparently no religious groups petitioned for this and there were no hordes of multiculturalists screaming for it, so it appears it was a solo move by the minister trying to bring the law in line with the Irish Constitution. Instead of removing the “crime” of blasphemy from the Irish Constitution, he decided to legislate against it.
To be honest I have found it bizarre. The minister seemed to be doing alright with his portfolio, but since then all his motivations are in question.