Jim Walsh (Fianna Fail)

I believe there are two wrongs in the situation we have been discussing. Freedom of expression, like all privileges, brings responsibilities with it and to gratuitously insult anybody's religion is, and should be, unacceptable. Second, the response of the Muslim community has been totally disproportionate to the offence caused in the cartoons. That raises a serious question. The so-called moderate Islamic leadership in Denmark first engaged with the Danish Government and when it got what it regarded as a unsatisfactory response, it brought the issue to the wider Muslim community throughout the world. The moderate and reasonable leadership within the Islamic community needs to assert itself and show real leadership. It is not good enough to say that the issue has been highjacked by right-wing fundamentalists who are using it for their own purpose.

A debate was held previously in this House about certain advertisements which were extremely offensive to many Christians. Senator Leyden may have alluded to this in his speech. I refrained from speaking about or condemning these advertisements at the time because I thought it would only garner further publicity for the companies, which they probably sought. We should consider a debate about the Advertising Standards Authority of Ireland so that it can be empowered to apply fairly severe financial sanctions in such circumstances. Such sanctions are, ultimately, the only way to make those behind these advertisements respect the religious beliefs of others. Our Constitution guarantees the right of every person to practise his or her religion. Religious beliefs of all hues must be respected.