Minister: Blasphemy should not be a crime in Ireland

A cabinet minister says Ireland's ban on blasphemy needs to be removed - but it cannot be done overnight.

Simon Coveney was responding to yesterday's shooting in Paris against staff at a satirical magazine, by suspected Islamist militants.

The Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine says the Constitution should not include a ban on blasphemy as it currently does.

But he says any change would involve a complicated process, and Ireland needs to be careful about altering the wording.

He said: "On the general issue, Ireland needs to sell itself, and needs to be a modern state that welcomes diversity and welcomes difference."

Article 40 of the Irish Constitution (1937) states that:

"The publication or utterance of blasphemous, seditious, or indecent matter is an offence which shall be punishable in accordance with law."

In addition Section 36 of the Defamation Act (2009) provides for a fine of up to €25,000 for anyone convicted of the offence.