Rónán Mullen (Independent) | Oireachtas source

I wish to comment on the section in light of the remarks of Senator McDowell. There is a delicious irony in his reference to the Gadarene swine. I am reading a book on a related issue by Tom Holland. It is impossible to escape religious cultural inheritance, as the Senator's comments showed.

On the issue of whether statutory provision for an offence of blasphemy ought to have been made, it is almost as though it is open to us to see whether the lacuna that will be created by the legislation will be abused and lead to the possible mischief of which the Senator is fearful. As I stated earlier, Labour Party Senators were wrong in making dire predictions about the possible effects of the relevant sections of the Defamation Act. If the provisions of this Bill are abused, we could then discuss what amending legislation might be necessary to address any mischief that might emerge.