Mixed messages from ministers on holding of blasphemy referendum

Government ministers are continuing to provide contradictory views on whether a referendum on blasphemy will take place this year in light of the Charlie Hebdo shootings.

On Friday, junior minister for equality and Labour TD Aodhán Ó Ríordáin said his “expectation” was that the referendum would be fast- tracked for the second half of 2015.

However, at a memorial service in Dublin Castle for the 10 journalists and two police officers who lost their lives in the attack, his party’s leader and a senior Fine Gael minister played down the prominence of the vote.