Dermot Ahern (Louth, Fianna Fail)

That was an option. Some people have suggested that we could repeal the entire Act and leave section 13, which contains the existing offence of blasphemous libel. However, we cannot do that because of the Corway case. The Corway judgment stated that there was a need to address this issue, and it stated that we effectively had to come back to address the existing offence of blasphemous libel. We cannot repeal the entire Act and leave section 13 in place. Even if we could leave section 13 in place, it would leave in place the possibility of imprisonment for blasphemous libel. It would leave the possibility that a private citizen could bring a prosecution for blasphemous libel. Our amendment takes out the threat of imprisonment, so there will only be a fine that is being reduced from €100,000 to €25,000. Some people have suggested that we should reduce that further. I would like to do that, but then the offence will be brought into the jurisdiction of the Circuit Court, and I think we would all prefer if it was dealt with in the High Court.