Mattie McGrath (Tipperary South, Fianna Fail)

I am delighted to have the opportunity to speak to the Bill. Our democracy is built on a number of core values, namely, free elections, free speech and freedom of assembly, of which free speech is among the most precious. In recent decades Ireland has given greater scope to freedom of expression. Long gone are the days when classic films and works of literature were censored. This went on for too long and constitutes a black mark against the early days of the State. We now are much more liberal about what is permissible to be sold and broadcast.

It seems, however, that some things are still forbidden. For example, a recent radio advertisement for the Catholic bookseller Veritas was banned by the Broadcasting Complaints Commission, BCC, because it associated the phrase "spiritual gifts" with Holy Communion and confirmation. As the advertisement made clear, the spiritual gifts in question were items such as rosary beads and prayer cards. Last Christmas another advertisement by Veritas was not carried on RTE because it included the word "crib". While it beggars belief that advertisements for cribs and First Holy Communion gifts are deemed to be in breach of the law, that is the case. Perhaps this is a good example of what the former Taoiseach, Deputy Bertie Ahern, called "aggressive secularism".

It appears that our new found tolerance does not always extend to religion. In fact, religion, even in its everyday form, is regarded as something suspect to be kept in a box. How else is one to regard legislation that bans advertisements for cribs from the airwaves? To bring home the absurdity of this latest advertisement ban, I will read it out in full. It reads:

Come to Veritas for great Confirmation and First Holy Communion gift ideas. Choose from our diverse range of religious and inspirational gifts that include children's literature, prayer books, rosary beads, religious medals and candles. So if you want to give your loved one a spiritual gift which relates to what Holy Communion and Confirmation are really about, [come to] Veritas.

Could anything be more harmless? In spite of this, the advertisement was held by the BCC to violate section 9 of the general advertising code, as developed in accordance with the Broadcasting Act 2001. The relevant section states advertisements "directed towards a religious end" are "not acceptable". The legislation also bans advertisements which appear to promote the merits or otherwise of any particular religion. To be fair, I also should point out that advertisements directed towards a political end also are banned. However, this never has stopped secular newspapers from advertising their often highly political content. There appears to be a double standard in the application of the relevant legislation.

The American constitution creates an absolute right to free speech. Politicians and religious groups are free to broadcast their views on air as long as they can pay to so do. No one is calling for such a free for all regime in Ireland and no one wants to see the negative advertising that occurs in the United States filling our airwaves. However, it must be possible to find a happy medium. How can the use of the word "crib" or the phrase "spiritual gifts" in connection with First Holy Communion seriously be considered harmful to society? Such advertisements should not be banned out of an unreasonable fear of opening the door to the sort of extreme religion of which Members are rightly wary.

Although one can advertise tarot readings on the airwaves, one can only place religious advertisements on the airwaves in the most limited possible circumstances, even though religion, despite some of the legitimate criticisms which can be made against it, does much good in this country. The new Broadcasting Bill presents Members with an excellent opportunity to amend the section dealing with religious advertising and introduce a law that is more in keeping with common sense. I call on the Minister to seize this opportunity.

See this speech in context