Free speech ‘not fully protected’ by Constitution

THE Constitution does not do enough to protect free speech, a cross-party Oireachtas committee has found.

The Joint Oireachtas Committee on the Constitution found that Article 40.6.1.i places an “undue emphasis” on the restrictions on free speech.

Article 40.6.1.i also states that it is a punishable offence to publish or utter “blasphemous, seditious or indecent matter” — outdated references which the committee said did not suit the modern era.