As you pointed out, Jesus himself was a highly blasphemous character within religious circles of the time. How will this law deal with inter-religious rivalry today (and yes, I use the term rivalry deliberately, to make it sound like a petty divison B 5-aside football match). It won't, nor will it ever be used to deal with anyone saying bad things about any religion. Seriously think about it: a law protecting Scientologists!? Ha ha never! Wait, this is Ireland so… :-\

I agree with all you say. Look at how Jesus dealt with his criticism, scorn, torture etc. Turn the other cheek, right? And that was Jesus himself!

Why does Biddy altar-cleaner think she's better than Jesus?

Besides, Jesus himself nearly bought it early on due to blasphemy laws.

From MATTHEW 26 :-

64 "Yes, it is as you say," Jesus replied. "But I say to all of you: In the future you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of the Mighty One and coming on the clouds of heaven."

65 Then the high priest tore his clothes and said, "He has spoken blasphemy! Why do we need any more witnesses? Look, now you have heard the blasphemy.

66 What do you think?"
"He is worthy of death," they answered.

67 Then they spit in his face and struck him with their fists.

Surely those with religious beliefs are "above" any kind of insult anyway, since they believe that these "blasphemers" will be smithed by their god in his own particular cruel way.

By all means, invoke laws that protect the individual from personal attack. No one should feel bullied in this world. If Johnny gets chased down the street by a bunch of screaming skinheads simply because he was wearing a pink shirt, we don't make a law criminalising someone who says bad things about pink shirts… we make a law saying that people shouldn't be harassed full stop! No matter what the fuck they're wearing, sexual inclination, religion, creed, sex….

With all the shit thats happened with banks recently, its a pity the state werent so interested in that other religious sin, usury!

Fucking muppets, the lot of them. Do you know, that half the reason I watch Dail proceedings is in the hope to see some mad mother fucker running in with a bomb strapped to his balls and blowing up the whole lot of those fucking dirty TD's. Of course, with the laziness of Irish politicians he'd probably only kill about 5 or 6 as the rest of them would be nowhere near the vicinity.