IN JULY 2009, the Dail passed the amended Blasphemy Act, which curtailed the freedom of speech. It came into operation on January 1, 2010. This law appalled many people, including religious people. The arch non-believer, Professor Richard Dawkins, described it as a "wretched, backward, uncivilised regression to the middle ages".
.... As well as being outraged, many people, myself included, were puzzled as to why it suddenly became so vital to pass this law, especially as Ireland had, in 2008, joined other EU countries in opposing an attempt by Islamic states to have the UN introduce a world-wide law making defamation of religion a crime. [Independent.ie] Read more
