LegalizeBLASPHEMY (ABOLITION OF OFFENCES AND RELATED MATTERS) ACT 2019
This is the act as published. Later amendments are not folded into the text below: each one is a separate act in this repository and an entry in this law's history.
Act to abolish the offences of blasphemy and blasphemous libel; to amend the Censorship of Films Act 1923 and the Censorship of Films (Amendment) Act 1925; to repeal certain provisions of the Defamation Act 2009; and to provide for related matters.
An Act to abolish the offences of blasphemy and blasphemous libel; to amend the Censorship of Films Act 1923 and the Censorship of Films (Amendment) Act 1925; to repeal certain provisions of the Defamation Act 2009; and to provide for related matters.
[21st December, 2019]
Be it enacted by the Oireachtas as follows:
1. Abolition of offences of blasphemy and blasphemous libel
1. Any rule of law by virtue of which—
- (a) blasphemy, or
- (b) blasphemous libel,
is an offence is abolished.
2. *Amendment of section 7 of* Censorship of Films Act 1923
2. Section 7(2)(a)(ii) of the Censorship of Films Act 1923 is amended by the substitution of “indecent or obscene” for “indecent, obscene or blasphemous”.
3. Amendment of section 3 of Censorship of Films (Amendment) Act 1925
3. Section 3(2) of the Censorship of Films (Amendment) Act 1925 is amended by the substitution of “indecent or obscene” for “indecent, obscene, or blasphemous”.
4. Repeal of sections 36 and 37 of Defamation Act 2009
4. Sections 36 and 37 of the Defamation Act 2009 are repealed.
5. Short title and commencement
5. (1) This Act may be cited as the Blasphemy (Abolition of Offences and Related Matters) Act 2019.
- (2) This Act shall come into operation on such day or days as the Minister for Justice and Equality may appoint by order or orders either generally or with reference to any particular purpose or provision and different days may be so appointed for different purposes or different provisions.
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