Tommy Broughan (Dublin Bay North, Independent)
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45. To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality when she plans to bring forward a referendum on Ireland's outdated blasphemy law; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [21787/16]

Frances Fitzgerald (Dublin Mid West, Fine Gael)
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The Government agreed in September 2014 to hold a referendum on removing the offence of blasphemy from the Constitution (Art 40.6.1(i)), in response to the 6th Report of the Convention on the Constitution, after completing the necessary further consultations and preparing amending legislation regarding the statutory offence of blasphemy contained in the Defamation Act 2009.

The Programme for a Partnership Government also proposes that a number of referenda be held, including a referendum on the question of removing the offence of blasphemy from the Constitution.

I can confirm to the Deputy that the preliminary consultations and preparatory work have already been undertaken in my Department, and that the Amendment of the Constitution (Removal of Blasphemy) Bill is included in the Government's Legislative Programme. However, further work will be undertaken to prepare the referendum Bill and its accompanying Bill to amend the statutory provision for the offence of blasphemy.