Ireland's lack of action on blasphemy law disappoints atheists and secularists

[hrmjustin]

Henry McDonald

Irish atheists and secularists have accused their government of breaking a promise to call a referendum over the Republic’s controversial blasphemy laws in the lifetime of the current coalition.

Atheist Ireland expressed disappointment that the government had quietly dropped plans for a plebiscite to rid the country of the legislation, which secularists have argued are incompatible with modern Ireland.

Last year, the Fine Gael-Labour coalition had promised a referendum on the blasphemy law to coincide with two other votes on gay marriage equality and lowering the age for when a citizen can become president of the state.

http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/dec/30/ireland-blasphemy-law-inaction-disappoints-atheists