Charlie Flanagan, minister for justice and equality of Ireland announced Tuesday that a referendum will be held in October to remove the offence of blasphemy from its constitution.
The government has approved the preparation of a bill to remove the law as part of a commitment to reforms. The referendum might be held on the same day as the presidential election.
Charlie Flanagan said: “In terms of Ireland’s international reputation, this is an important step. Regrettably, there are some countries in the world where blasphemy is an offence, the punishment of which is being put to death.”
“By removing this provision from our constitution, we can send a strong message to the world that laws against blasphemy do not reflect Irish values and that we do not believe such laws should exist.”
Progressive lawmakers in Ireland would also like to hold a vote on changing the constitutional phrasing that prioritizes women’s role in the home over the workplace.
> Shiuly Rina
