David Norris (Independent) | Oireachtas source

I agree completely with the previous speaker who raises a very important issue.

I wish to raise another important issue for this country, that of blasphemy. I ask the Leader to arrange for a debate on this issue, to include a discussion on whether the Government will consider holding a referendum, if necessary, which could be tagged on to one of the other referenda that will be held. The Minister for Health, Deputy Simon Harris said that the blasphemy law is silly but it is much more than silly, it is highly dangerous. When this provision was renewed some years ago, I warned that Islamic State would use the Irish example, that it would point to it as an example of a Christian state doing exactly the same as Muslim states in terms of blasphemy and indeed, it was used in justification. Virtually all of the religious denominations in this country made a statement a number of years ago to the effect that this provision is completely and absolutely unnecessary and it is so.

A number of years ago, Gay Newswas banned on foot of a complaint of blasphemy. It was seized by customs officials and not allowed into the country. Now we have a situation where the distinguished actor, Stephen Fry, has had a complaint made against him for remarks he made on a television programme hosted by Mr. Gay Byrne. As a practising Christian, I must say that the questions he raised were serious, profound and highly important. They have been debated over many years by prominent theologians. He asked, for example, how we can have a decent God who allows bone cancer in children. That is a real theological problem and it has to be faced. I see nothing wrong with somebody raising such issues in a passionate way on an Irish television programme. These are the kinds of issues that need to be debated. I must say that Stephen Fry was a lot more convincing than the usual rigmarole that one gets from people who are asked the question, "What would you say to God?". His was one of the best answers ever. Apparently the complainant in Ennis was anonymous whereas Stephen Fry had the guts to stand up in a Christian country and raise these issues. I do not think it is too much to ask that if one is going to make a complaint about blasphemy, one should at least have the guts to put one's name to it. I look forward to this provision being removed by this Government.