David Norris (Independent)

One can act as a catalyst for all kinds of odd emotions.

In 2005, Greek courts found a book of cartoons to be blasphemous and issued a European arrest warrant for the Austrian cartoonist who drew them. This point is important because the court issued an international warrant which could only be effected where there is a parallel offence. We are creating a parallel offence in this country. We might be initiating a situation where Irish citizens will be exposed to risk from other courts, which is highly dangerous.

The prophet Michael Nugent is the author of an entirely new religion and expects it to be protected from blasphemy. I regret the absence of the Minister, Deputy Ahern, because he would be very pleased to learn he is at the centre of this new devotion. It is called the "Church of Dermotology" and it believes ice-cream wafers are literally the body of the Minister, Deputy Dermot Ahern, and will issue fatwas against cartoonists who publish cartoons of him. It is a development which is to be very much welcomed.

I have a comment of some substance on the precise wording of amendment No. 29. It reduces the fine to €25,000, which shows a certain degree of nervousness on the part of the Minister. The amendment refers to matter that is grossly abusive or insulting to things held sacred by any religion, thereby causing outrage. Subsection(4) refers to the idea of religion and gives a partial definition of it. In this section religion does not include an organisation or cult, the principle object of which is to make a profit. That covers just about every religion. I am a church-going member of the Church of Ireland, but it is an undeniable fact that churches make profits and it gets worse the closer one gets to the United States of America.

Another point on subsection (4) is that an organisation that employs oppressive psychological manipulation of its followers or for the purpose of gaining new followers is not described as a religion. I would be very concerned about this if I were a member of the majority church. I am not unsympathetic towards it but I am not keen on some of its leaders.