Ciarán Cuffe (Dún Laoghaire, Green Party)
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Question 292: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs the way Ireland voted on a United Nations measure aimed at combating the defamation of religions in November 2008; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10040/09]

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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Ireland, in common with all of our European Union (EU) partners, voted against a resolution on "Combating Defamation of Religion" which was adopted by the UN General Assembly on 18 December 2008 by a vote of 86 in favour, 53 against with 42 abstentions. The resolution was tabled by Egypt on behalf of the Organisation of the Islamic Conference. The EU has repeatedly expressed its concerns regarding the general approach, conceptual framework and terminology of such resolutions.

We believe that the concept of defamation of religion is not consistent with the promotion and protection of human rights. It can be used to justify arbitrary limitations on, or the denial of, freedom of expression. Indeed, Ireland considers that freedom of expression is a key and inherent element in the manifestation of freedom of thought and conscience and as such is complementary to freedom of religion or belief.

However, we believe that a clear distinction should be made between the right freely to criticise religions or beliefs on the one hand, and discrimination based on religion or belief, or incitement to religious hatred, on the other. Ireland supported a resolution on the "Elimination of all forms of intolerance and of discrimination based on religion or belief", which was adopted by consensus by the UN General Assembly on 18 December 2008.