Michael McCarthy (Cork South West, Labour)
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315. To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality the position regarding setting a date to hold a referendum on removing the offence of blasphemy from the Constitution; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [2479/15]

Frances Fitzgerald (Dublin Mid West, Fine Gael)
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The Deputy will be aware that the Government agreed last September to hold a referendum on removing the offence of blasphemy from the Constitution, in response to the 6th Report of the Convention on the Constitution.

The work necessary to prepare a Referendum Bill and a Bill to amend the current legislative provision for the offence of blasphemy is ongoing in my Department.

An appropriate date for the Referendum will be decided by Government when the legislation has been prepared. Last week, the Taoiseach confirmed in the Dáil that the blasphemy referendum will not be held this year, as two referenda are already scheduled for this year.

In the meantime, my officials and I are working on preparing the necessary legislation which is included in the Government Legislative Programme for 2015, as announced on 14 January.