Results 1-5 of 5 for blasphemy speaker:Joe O'Toole

Seanad: Defamation Bill 2006 [Seanad Bill amended by the Dáil] : Report and Final Stages (9 Jul 2009)

Joe O'Toole: Rather than repeat comments made by previous speakers, I propose examining where the proposal on blasphemy sits within the law, what is its intent and where it came from. I gently correct the Minister on the matter of where the offence of blasphemy stands in the Constitution. While the offence is referred to in the Constitution, it existed before the Constitution was drawn up, yet no one...

Seanad: Defamation Bill 2006 [Seanad Bill amended by the Dáil] : Report and Final Stages (9 Jul 2009)

Joe O'Toole: Even if defining the offence of blasphemy were a constitutional imperative, and I do not accept that is the case, it would not constitute a sufficient reason to support the Minister's logic. The Minister referred to the Law Reform Commission's report on the crime of libel. The report stated there is no place for the offence of blasphemous libel in a society which respects free speech and...

Seanad: Broadcasting Bill 2008 [Seanad Bill amended by the Dáil]: Report and Final Stages (30 Jun 2009)

Joe O'Toole: ...taste or decency" is being replaced by "causing harm or offence", which change is very welcome, I would hate to be the judge of what causes offence. The question is like that which arose in the blasphemy debate. On Second Stage and Committee Stage, I felt content that causing offence must be calculated to incite hatred. Causing offence is very much a passive process. While I agree that...

Seanad: Report of the Commission to Inquire into Child Abuse: Statements (27 May 2009)

Joe O'Toole: ...to Ferns where he dealt with child abuse cases. Before he went to Ferns, to divert slightly, he tried to instigate a boycott of the Irish Press newspapers on the grounds that they were committing blasphemy, a subject which is very topical at the moment. What was the blasphemy? Madonna the singer was expecting a child and a columnist made some comment about that and the Madonna and child...

Seanad: Broadcasting Standards: Statements (4 Nov 2008)

Joe O'Toole: ...or libellous comments or those which represent an incitement to hatred or discrimination or to break the law are easy to deal with and we are aware of the position in such cases, but the case of blasphemy is not so simple. I would not normally make a case for the Catholic church but I believe, given the way in which western society has changed, it is more acceptable to blaspheme the...