Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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156. To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality the current position in regard to the law on blasphemy; the extent to which it is expected or intended to review and-or repeal it; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6562/15]

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 contained in Article 40.6.1.1 of the Constitution, in response to the 6th Report of the Convention on the Constitution. The Government's response was presented in the Dáil on 2nd October 2014.

The work necessary to prepare a Referendum Bill and a Bill to amend the current legislative provision in the Defamation Act 2009 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 month, the Taoiseach confirmed in the Dáil that the blasphemy referendum will not be held in 2015, 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.