The offence of Blasphemy has been officially scrapped.
It comes after the Irish people voted to repeal the law criminalising blasphemy from the Constitution with 65% in favour.
In commencing the legislation today, the Justice Minister Charlie Flanagan said the “very notion of criminalising blasphemy, with the risk of a chilling effect on free expression and public debate, has no place in the Constitution or the laws of a modern Republic.”
“Ireland is a country of increasing diversity,” he said.
“The right to express differing viewpoints in a forthright and critical manner is a right to be cherished and upheld.”
He said the legislation also removes “all identified references to blasphemy” in Irish law – including in relation to the censorship of films.
This morning, the Irish Council for Civil Liberties said the new legislation is a “wonderful leap forward” for human rights in this country.
Executive Director Liam Herrick said it marks an important day for freedom of expression.
“It is very positive news that we see from the Government today that they are implementing the result of the Referendum on Blasphemy,” he said.
“We are now seeing a landmark on the road towards free speech and against censorship in Ireland.”
