Gerry Adams (Louth, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

The Taoiseach has made it clear that he will not act on the recommendation of the sixth report of the Convention on the Constitution, although the Minister of State, Deputy Ó Ríordáin, told the Dáil that this recommendation was accepted and that a referendum would be held to remove the offence of blasphemy from the Constitution. The law defines blasphemy as publishing or saying something that is grossly abusive or insulting in respect of matters held sacred by any religion, thereby causing outrage among a substantial number of the adherents of that religion.

There is an exception where literary, artistic or academic merit can be proved. This, arguably, might not be such a huge issue, given that no one has been convicted of blasphemy in Ireland since 1855. However, the acts of violence by ISIS, the civil wars in Iraq and Syria, the attack in North Carolina, the huge atrocities committed in north Africa and which are ongoing in parts of the Middle East and the recent attack in Tunisia in which three Irish citizens and 38 other folks were slaughtered all underline the role fundamentalism, political sectarianism and race hatred continue to play in the world. The State has a ban on incitement to hatred, including on religious grounds, but the removal of the blasphemy clause from the Constitution would send a very powerful message across the world that the Irish people were opposed to sectarianism, which is still prevalent in Irish society today, in particular, in the North, as well as to intolerance, injustice and racial hatred.

It is good that the Taoiseach has met religious leaders. When we last discussed this issue in January, he said he was going to meet representatives of the Islamic faith. It is also good that he met Atheist Ireland and Jewish religious leaders, although, of course, these meetings were separate and unrelated. Having a structure and a strategy for the Taoiseach's meetings with religious leaders and others would be very helpful at this time because our focus has to be on strengthening pluralist values, building on the republican and democratic values of citizenship, equality and inclusivity. Lest we be too pious about all of this, there are lots of reminders of religious fundamentalism, including Catholic fundamentalism, in the scandals of the mother and baby homes, the Magdalen laundries and the mistreatment of women. The Government established a commission of investigation into mother and baby homes and certain related matters. The commission is to provide a full and proper account of what happened to vulnerable women, babies and children in these homes. Does the Taoiseach have any information on the progress of the commission and when its report is to be published? I previously asked but do not recall the Taoiseach answering if he had met any of the faith communities since the "Yes" vote in the marriage equality referendum and if he would make a statement on the matter. If he has answered that question, I stand corrected.

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