Comments on: Submission to Justice Committee

By: Mark Humphrys

Mark Humphrys — Thu, 21 May 2009 13:23:18 +0000

Terrific statement, Michael.

I have some decent money to donate to help fund this campaign if it is needed. If this law is passed, I would help fund a case to take this to the European Court of Human Rights, as was done with the law against homosexuality:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Campaign_for_Homosexual_Law_Reform

I was actually a Fianna Fail supporter before this. I have written to all of my Fianna Fail local and European candidates and told them I was going to vote for them before this (which is true) and now will not because of this (which is also true). Fianna Fail, at a time when they are in terrible trouble in the polls, is throwing away my vote for no reason and no gain to them.

I’ll be coming to the Monday meeting in Dublin.
Mark Humphrys
http://markhumphrys.com/atheism.html
http://markhumphrys.com/sharia.ireland.html

By: imokyrok

imokyrok — Wed, 20 May 2009 17:14:17 +0000

http://www.politics.ie/justice/70397-law-blasphemous-libel-amended.html

For todays speech from Ahern see the above link. A press Release from FG TD Charlie Flanagan in reply to Aherns attempt to justify his actions is also on the thread. It is excellent. He’s been one of the better TD’s on the issue.

By: Genevieve

Genevieve — Wed, 20 May 2009 12:54:28 +0000

I like it. it makes great points and is delightfully readable. Fingers crossed!

By: Blasphemy news « The Clockwork Chartophylax

Blasphemy news « The Clockwork Chartophylax — Wed, 20 May 2009 12:54:15 +0000

[...] Ireland have made a submission to the committee that succinctly sums all that is wrong with the Ahern amendment. It’s well [...]

By: Greg Phillips

Greg Phillips — Wed, 20 May 2009 12:22:46 +0000

An excellent statement, I hope it does the job

By: Michael Nugent

Michael Nugent — Wed, 20 May 2009 11:27:43 +0000

Thanks for the feedback, much of which I have incorporated.

Part 1 is just letting the recipients know who the submission is from. I have included that we work alongside the Humanist Association. In part 2, we need to defend something stronger than ideas being open to question and debate, as the new law would not outlaw question and debate. I have replaced “insult” which seems aimed at people with “disrespect” which seems more suited to ideas.

In part 3, I have changed “this is not an adult way to enact legislation” to “this brings our laws, and our legislators, into disrepute.” In part 4, the referendum reference is to deleting the Constitutional clause about blasphemy. I have rephrased that to make it clearer. I agree that part 5 is the least directly relevant argument to people living in Ireland. That is why it is the fifth of the five points.

By: Cian

Cian — Wed, 20 May 2009 09:05:39 +0000

question\debate

By: Cian

Cian — Wed, 20 May 2009 09:05:02 +0000

I like it. I would have replaced Insult and ridicule in Part 1 Paragraph 3 with questiondebate and offence. Also Part 5 about forign opinion. Im not sure if the extremist argument is really the best point to make. But i like parts 1-4.

I think part 1 is more like an introduction saying who we are and what we stand for. Im not sure if it should be just Athiest Ireland though. I mean why not put in a joint submission with the humanists.

By: Gareth

Gareth — Wed, 20 May 2009 08:51:01 +0000

If you want to make this a religion neutral cause, you should remove point 1 from the submission. Just an idea however.

By: Grania Spingies

Grania Spingies — Wed, 20 May 2009 08:07:40 +0000

This is very good. With regard to the Conor Ryan’s point about the word “adult” perhaps “responsible” or “mature”. But neither has the quite the right connotation. The claw-back clause that has been proposed shows that even they realise this is a pointless law serving no-one.