President signs Criminal Justice and Blasphemy bills into law

[David Cochrane]

The President, Mary McAleese has this morning signed the Criminal Justice and Blasphemy bills into law.

Many suspected the likelyhood of the President announcing this afternoon whether or not she would refer either (or both) of the bills to the Supreme Court, having convened the Council of State last night to consult her on whether the bills were constitutional.

However, this morning RTE reported on their 10am news bulletin that the President had in fact signed the bills.

RTÉ News: President signs two bills into law

[Marascal]

May I be the first to say that I find all religions equally repulsive. And that includes the Aetheists.

Come get me.

[nonpartyboy]

The good people of Ireland 1 - 0 ICCL

[Mitsui]

Whoop dee doo! Isn't it great to see our Betters responding to our current crisis so promptly and appropriately? I'm off to found a religion immediately, so that someone can blaspheme against us & I can call the coppers.

[FutureChiefJustice]

Hopefully it won't take too long for some poor patriotic soul to be victimised by the criminal justice bill and challenge it in the Supreme Court. Not that I wish injustice on anybody but the quicker the Court considers this bill the better off society will be. Nor do I wish a gangland criminal to get off in such circumstances but it is bad law. McAleese didn't want to gamble with the possibility of bulletproofing it and I won't hold it against her for not referring. You earned your paycheque this week Madam President.

[seabhcan]

Whoop dee doo! Isn't it great to see our Betters responding to our current crisis so promptly and appropriately? I'm off to found a religion immediately, so that someone can blaspheme against us & I can call the coppers.

Great idea. My religion will be based on the Holy Pronouncement From On High that Fianna Fail should not be in Government.

The continued existance of FF in government will be considered blasphomy.

[Galmor]

Surely this will cost the government in the next election?

[cactusflower]

Looking at the composition of the Council of State and at Mary McAleese herself, this doesn't come as any surprise.

Áras an Uachtaráin - Council of State

[odie1kanobe]

Expect the eventual condemnation of the ECtHR and the UN for the Criminal Justice Act.
We will be shamed before the civilised world.

BWHAHAHAH

Like they really care.

[orbit]

On the other hand if it's challenged by some unsavoury character from Limerick, and he ends up winning his case, that won't look too good for them.

Thinking about it some more, it would be a really dire situation. It would create a far more intimidatory atmosphere for a jury that is empaneled afterwards.