Referendum follows vote to overturn abortion ban, as Michael Higgins set for second term

This article is more than 10 months old

This article is more than 10 months old

Ireland has voted to remove the crime of blasphemy from its constitution by a significant majority, according to exit polls.

The national broadcaster, RTÉ, suggested that just over 71% had voted yes on the question of whether or not to repeal the constitutional ban. The Irish Times poll predicted that 69% had backed the proposal.

Official counting of the votes beings on Saturday.

The blasphemy referendum was held alongside a presidential election, in which exit polls suggested the incumbent, Michael D Higgins, had won by a landslide.

Ireland to vote on removing blasphemy as an offence Read more

Should the referendum figures be confirmed, the move would be the latest sign of the weakening of religious conservatism in the country.

The last prosecution for blasphemy in Ireland was in 1855, but three years ago Irish police investigated comments made by Stephen Fry on television in which the comedian described God as “capricious”, “mean-minded”, and an “utter maniac”. The investigation was later dropped after police decided insufficient numbers of people had been outraged.

Ireland voted to allow same-sex marriage in 2015, and nearly two-thirds of Irish voters backed the repeal of the country’s abortion ban in May this year, leading the taoiseach, Leo Varadkar, to proclaim the “culmination of a quiet revolution for the past 10 or 20 years”.

Rights groups push for yes vote in Irish blasphemy referendum Read more

An RTÉ exit poll on the presidential election suggested Higgins had secured more than 56% of the vote.

The results put the controversial businessman and former Irish Dragons’ Den investor, Peter Casey, in second with about 20% of the first-preference vote. It means Higgins is likely to be easily re-elected for a second seven-year term on the first count.

The results also indicate that the Sinn Fein MEP Liadh Ni Riada received 7.4% of the vote, senator Joan Freeman 6.3%, the businessman and former Dragons’ Den panellist Sean Gallagher 5.5% and businessman Gavin Duffy 2%.

Ireland to vote over constitution clause on women's role in the home Read more

The Irish Times poll, conducted by Ipsos/MRBI, questioned more than 4,300 voters outside 160 polling stations across the country. It produced broadly similar projections.

The results of both polls were published at 10pm as polling stations closedMore than 3.2 million people were entitled to vote in 40 constituencies across the country.

Opinion polls throughout the campaign consistently placed Higgins as the favourite, despite being plagued by questions over presidential expenses.If re-elected, the 77-year old will become the fifth Irish president to serve for two terms.</s>Image caption Contesting the election are, clockwise from top left, Peter Casey, Gavin Duffy, Joan Freeman, Liadh Ni Riada, Michael D Higgins and Sean Gallagher

Polls have opened in the Republic of Ireland as voters elect their president.

Mr Higgins is the first incumbent in 50 years to face a challenge in his bid for a second seven-year term.

The president is Ireland's "first citizen", but has limited power - the role is mainly symbolic and he or she cannot get involved in daily politics.

Voters are also being asked whether they want to remove the offence of "blasphemy" from the constitution.

Many were unaware there was such an offence until referred controversial remarks made by the actor and writer Stephen Fry on an RTE programme about what he regarded as God's cruelty, to the police force, the Garda Siochana.

But the matter was dropped when gardai (police officers) could find no-one who was offended.

The last person to be prosecuted for blasphemy was in 1855 when the British ruled Ireland.

In the presidential poll, Mr Higgins' rivals include:

Liadh Ni Riada, the Sinn Féin MEP

Senator Joan Freeman, a campaigner on mental health issues and the founder of the charity Pieta House

Sean Gallagher, a businessman who was the runner-up seven years ago

Gavin Duffy, a former broadcaster who now works as a businessman in the communications industry

Peter Casey, a Londonderry-born businessman and who made his fortune abroad

The three businessmen were all "dragons" in the Irish version of the Dragons' Den TV programme.

Dublin Castle announcement

Polls suggest that people will vote overwhelmingly to remove references to the offence of "blasphemy" from the constitution.

The measure has the support of all the main parties and the main Christian churches.

People living on islands off the coast of Donegal, Mayo and Galway have already voted in the presidential election and referendum on blasphemy to guarantee that weather conditions would not prevent their ballots being counted with the rest of the country.

Polls will be open from 07:00 local time until 22:00.

Counting in centres across the state will begin on Saturday at 09:00.

The official result, expected on Saturday evening, will be announced at Dublin castle.</s>Ireland has voted to remove the crime of blasphemy from its constitution by a significant majority, according to exit polls.

An exit poll by the national broadcaster, RTÉ, suggested 71.1% had voted yes on the question of whether or not to repeal the constitutional ban, with 26.3% voting no. A poll by the Irish Times poll predicted that 69% had backed the proposal and 31% had voted against it.

The blasphemy referendum was held alongside a presidential election, which exit polling suggested had been been won by a landslide by the incumbent, Michael D Higgins.

Should the referendum figures be confirmed once the votes are counted, the move would be the latest sign of the weakening of religious conservatism in the country.

The last prosecution for blasphemy in Ireland was in 1855, but three years ago Irish police investigated comments made by Stephen Fry on television in which the comedian described God as “capricious”, “mean-minded”, and an “utter maniac”. The investigation was later dropped after police decided insufficient numbers of people had been outraged.

In 2015, Ireland voted to allow same-sex marriage and, in May this year, nearly two thirds of Irish voters backed the repeal of the country’s abortion ban, leading the taoiseach, Leo Varadkar, to proclaim the “culmination of a quiet revolution [that has been taking place] for the past 10 or 20 years”.

An RTÉ exit poll on the presidential election suggested Higgins had secured more than 56% of the vote.

The results put the controversial businessman and former Irish Dragons’ Den star, Peter Casey, in second with about 20% of first-preference vote. It means Higgins is likely to be easily re-elected on the first count for a second seven-year term.

The results also indicate that the Sinn Fein MEP, Liadh Ni Riada, received 7.4% of the vote, while Senator Joan Freeman got 6.3% and the businessman and former Dragons’ Den investor, Sean Gallagher, got 5.5%.

The Irish Times poll, conducted by Ipsos/MRBI, questioned more than 4,300 voters outside 160 polling stations across the country. It produced broadly similar projections.

The results of both polls, which were published at 10pm as polling stations across the country closed, indicate that Gavin Duffy secured the lowest number of votes at 2%. More than 3.2 million people were entitled to vote in 40 constituencies across the country.

Opinion polls throughout the campaign consistently placed Higgins as the favourite, despite being plagued by questions over presidential expenses.

If re-elected, the 77-year old will become the fifth Irish president to serve for two terms. Counting of votes will begin on Saturday morning with a result expected by the evening.</s>Latest: Amnesty International Ireland has welcomed the result of today's blasphemy referendum saying it is significant for freedom of expression in Ireland.

Exit polls suggest that the Irish people have voted to remove the blasphemy law from the constitution by between 69% and 71%.

"While we await the final figures from the national wide count, it is clear at this stage that the Yes side have carried the day. Today’s vote is another important step towards a human rights compliant Constitution," said Colm O’Gorman, Amnesty International Ireland Executive Director.

"It follows the massive support for the constitutional referenda allowing marriage equality and ending the abortion ban. People in Ireland have shown yet again that they value human rights and freedoms.

"Now, States like Pakistan can no longer justify their own severe anti-blasphemy laws by pointing to Ireland’s Constitution.

"This referendum outcome does not make people's freedom of religion or belief less protected. The government must still ensure that everyone can manifest and practise their religion without discrimination or threat.

"We also need to have robust prohibition of inciting hatred on religious and other grounds, in law and practice."

Exit polls suggest that the 'Yes' vote for removing the Blasphemy law from the constitution might be between 69% and 71%.

The RTÉ exit poll also showed an overwhelming majority, 71% have agreed to remove the reference to blasphemy from the Irish Constitution.

While the Irish Times poll conducted by Ipsos/MRBI suggests 69% voted Yes to the referendum.

Michael Nugent from Atheist Ireland says if that is accurate, it will be a great result for freedom of religion, belief, and speech.

"We have to remember that they are only exit polls, they are not official results," said Mr Nugent.

"But even given the largest possible margin of error, it's very positive.

"Whatever the result, we would like to thank everybody who has campaigned for nearly a decade to make this referendum happen and to achieve such a good vote.

"Hopefully, when the full results come in we will have removed a medieval crime from our constitution."</s>Update 11pm: Almost 65% of people have voted in favour of the 37th amendment to the constitution in the Blasphemy Referendum.

[factbox][item]For details on the referendum results and how people voted in your area, see here [/item][/factbox]

Just over 35 per cent have voted No.

The result marks the latest sign of Ireland's decades-long social liberalisation from a deeply Catholic society to an increasingly secular one.

Earlier, when it was apparent that the amendment would be approved, Taoiseach Leo Varadkar said: "It is very much part of an ongoing campaign in many ways to reform our constitution, to make it a 21st century constitution or a 21st century Republic."

He placed the public poll among a series of reforms beginning in the 1960's when the state removed the special place of the Catholic Church from the constitution and including enshrining marriage equality and giving women the right to choose abortion.

"This is the next small step in what is a very big deal, which is the reform of our constitution, so the next set of referenda are pencilled in for May."

Removing the reference to blasphemy was backed by a Catholic Church which has sustained severe reputational damage from decades of clerical sex abuse.

Nobody has been prosecuted for the offence in Ireland since 1855, in connection with an alleged case of Bible-burning.

It was included in anti-defamation legislation passed by the Irish Government in 2009.

Blasphemy was defined as publishing or uttering something "grossly abusive or insulting in relation to matters sacred by any religion, thereby intentionally causing outrage among a substantial number of adherents of that religion".

Comedian Stephen Fry fell foul of the law in 2015 when he gave a television interview during which he was asked what he would say to God.

A viewer complained to Gardaí, who launched an investigation, but Fry was never charged with blasphemy.

Earlier: Irish Council for Civil Liberties welcomes support for Yes vote in blasphemy vote

The Irish Council for Civil Liberties (ICCL) has welcomed the expected Yes vote in the referendum on blasphemy as an important step for free speech and the modernisation of our democracy.

This group said that it will bring Ireland into line with international best practice in human rights, as called for by the UN Human Rights Committee.

ICCL has now called on the Government to repeal sections 36 and 37 of the Defamation Act 2009 which define the criminal offence of blasphemy.

“During our campaign for a Yes vote, our guiding principle was respect for freedom of expression," said executive director of the ICCL, Liam Herrick.

“However, we have also argued that the right to free speech is not absolute and should be limited to the degree necessary to protect people from hate- and hostility-motivated crime.

“Hate crime is something which is entirely different to blasphemy as it is directed towards individuals or groups, rather than ideas or institutions. There is no legislation in place to deal with hate crime in Ireland at the moment.”

Earlier: Blasphemy referendum result 'significant for freedom of expression', says Amnesty Ireland

Amnesty International Ireland has welcomed the result of today's blasphemy referendum saying it is significant for freedom of expression in Ireland.

Exit polls suggest that the Irish people have voted to remove the blasphemy law from the constitution by between 69% and 71%.

"While we await the final figures from the national wide count, it is clear at this stage that the Yes side have carried the day. Today’s vote is another important step towards a human rights compliant Constitution," said Colm O’Gorman, Amnesty International Ireland Executive Director.

"It follows the massive support for the constitutional referenda allowing marriage equality and ending the abortion ban. People in Ireland have shown yet again that they value human rights and freedoms.

"Now, States like Pakistan can no longer justify their own severe anti-blasphemy laws by pointing to Ireland’s Constitution.

"This referendum outcome does not make people's freedom of religion or belief less protected. The government must still ensure that everyone can manifest and practise their religion without discrimination or threat.

"We also need to have robust prohibition of inciting hatred on religious and other grounds, in law and practice."

Exit polls suggest that the 'Yes' vote for removing the Blasphemy law from the constitution might be between 69% and 71%.

The RTÉ exit poll also showed an overwhelming majority, 71% have agreed to remove the reference to blasphemy from the Irish Constitution.

While the Irish Times poll conducted by Ipsos/MRBI suggests 69% voted Yes to the referendum.

Michael Nugent from Atheist Ireland says if that is accurate, it will be a great result for freedom of religion, belief, and speech.

"We have to remember that they are only exit polls, they are not official results," said Mr Nugent.

"But even given the largest possible margin of error, it's very positive.

"Whatever the result, we would like to thank everybody who has campaigned for nearly a decade to make this referendum happen and to achieve such a good vote.

"Hopefully, when the full results come in we will have removed a medieval crime from our constitution."</s>Ireland's blasphemy referendum is a small step towards creating a 21st century constitution, prime minister Leo Varadkar says.

The anticipated result, removing the term from the state's official statement of values, marks the latest sign of Ireland's decades-long social liberalisation from a deeply-Catholic and conservative society to an increasingly secular one.

Varadkar said the change was approved by around 70 per cent of the electorate during Friday's vote.

"It is very much part of an ongoing campaign in many ways to reform our constitution, to make it a 21st century constitution or a 21st century Republic."

He placed the public poll among a series of reforms beginning in the 1960's when the state removed the special place of the Catholic Church from the constitution and including enshrining marriage equality and giving women the right to choose abortion.

"This is the next small step in what is a very big deal, which is the reform of our constitution, so the next set of referenda are pencilled in for May."

Removing the reference to blasphemy was backed by a Catholic Church which has sustained severe reputational damage from decades of clerical sex abuse.

Nobody has been prosecuted for the offence in Ireland since 1855, in connection with an alleged case of Bible-burning.

Blasphemy was defined as publishing or uttering something "grossly abusive or insulting in relation to matters sacred by any religion, thereby intentionally causing outrage among a substantial number of adherents of that religion".

Ireland has also voted to re-elect its president, Michael D. Higgins, for a second term.

Higgins easily won re-election to the largely ceremonial role with 56 per cent of the vote, the electoral commission said on Saturday.</s>Campaigners in Ireland celebrated the end of a “medieval” ban on blasphemy on Saturday, after voters overwhelmingly supported a referendum to remove the offence from the constitution.

More than two-thirds of voters supported the move, exit polls showed, with final results expected later in the day. The decision was the latest reflection of seismic social and political changes in Ireland, which the taoiseach Leo Varadkar has described as a “quiet revolution”.

“It means that we’ve got rid of a medieval crime from our constitution that should never have been there,” said Michael Nugent, chairperson of Atheist Ireland, which had campaigned for years to have blasphemy taken out of the constitution.

Voters also returned president Michael Higgins to office, giving the 77-year-old poet and human rights campaigner another seven-year term by a comfortable margin.

Until recently, Ireland was deeply conservative, dominated by the Catholic church, but the country has legalised gay marriage and abortion in popular votes, and is now led by an openly gay taoiseach.

Reflecting the speed of changes in Ireland, the strongest support for ending the ban came from younger voters, exit polls suggested. Four in five voters under 35 backed the change, according to the Irish Times, while over-65s only approved it by a narrow margin, with 52% in favour and 48% against.

The government had already laid out legislation to remove the offence of blasphemy from the constitution and all relevant laws, should the referendum be passed.

It has been over 150 years since anyone was prosecuted for blasphemy in Ireland, but the country had passed a blasphemy law in 2009, making it the only western democracy to bring in new legislation in the 21st century.

Three years ago, Irish police investigated comments made by comedian Stephen Fry on TV, when he described God as “capricious”, “mean-minded”, and an “utter maniac”. They ultimately dropped the case, deciding that not enough people had been outraged.

Poor turnout slightly undermined the celebrations, with only around 45% of eligible voters casting a ballot, potentially the lowest ever recorded for a presidential vote.

But Nugent said the premlinary result, if confirmed, would be another important step towards realigning national laws with contemporary Irish life.

“The population has moved on, [people are] no longer controlled by the Catholic church, but a lot of the laws that were put in place are still there,” he added. “We have to chip away at them and get the state to catch up with the people.”</s>Update 4.45pm: The Irish Council for Civil Liberties (ICCL) has welcomed the expected Yes vote in the referendum on blasphemy as an important step for free speech and the modernisation of our democracy.

This group said that it will bring Ireland into line with international best practice in human rights, as called for by the UN Human Rights Committee.

ICCL has now called on the Government to repeal sections 36 and 37 of the Defamation Act 2009 which define the criminal offence of blasphemy.

“During our campaign for a Yes vote, our guiding principle was respect for freedom of expression," said executive director of the ICCL, Liam Herrick.

“However, we have also argued that the right to free speech is not absolute and should be limited to the degree necessary to protect people from hate- and hostility-motivated crime.

“Hate crime is something which is entirely different to blasphemy as it is directed towards individuals or groups, rather than ideas or institutions. There is no legislation in place to deal with hate crime in Ireland at the moment.”

Earlier: Blasphemy referendum result 'significant for freedom of expression', says Amnesty Ireland

Amnesty International Ireland has welcomed the result of today's blasphemy referendum saying it is significant for freedom of expression in Ireland.

Exit polls suggest that the Irish people have voted to remove the blasphemy law from the constitution by between 69% and 71%.

"While we await the final figures from the national wide count, it is clear at this stage that the Yes side have carried the day. Today’s vote is another important step towards a human rights compliant Constitution," said Colm O’Gorman, Amnesty International Ireland Executive Director.

"It follows the massive support for the constitutional referenda allowing marriage equality and ending the abortion ban. People in Ireland have shown yet again that they value human rights and freedoms.

"Now, States like Pakistan can no longer justify their own severe anti-blasphemy laws by pointing to Ireland’s Constitution.

"This referendum outcome does not make people's freedom of religion or belief less protected. The government must still ensure that everyone can manifest and practise their religion without discrimination or threat.

"We also need to have robust prohibition of inciting hatred on religious and other grounds, in law and practice."

Exit polls suggest that the 'Yes' vote for removing the Blasphemy law from the constitution might be between 69% and 71%.

The RTÉ exit poll also showed an overwhelming majority, 71% have agreed to remove the reference to blasphemy from the Irish Constitution.

While the Irish Times poll conducted by Ipsos/MRBI suggests 69% voted Yes to the referendum.

Michael Nugent from Atheist Ireland says if that is accurate, it will be a great result for freedom of religion, belief, and speech.

"We have to remember that they are only exit polls, they are not official results," said Mr Nugent.

"But even given the largest possible margin of error, it's very positive.

"Whatever the result, we would like to thank everybody who has campaigned for nearly a decade to make this referendum happen and to achieve such a good vote.

"Hopefully, when the full results come in we will have removed a medieval crime from our constitution."</s>THE DECISION TO remove blasphemy as a criminal offence from Ireland’s constitution is being broadly welcomed today.

As the counting of votes in the Presidential election takes precedence over the referendum, it’s likely to be several hours, if not tomorrow, before an official result on the blasphemy is announced. However RTÉ’s exit poll, puts the yes vote on blasphemy at 70%.

Amnesty International Ireland said the vote is “significant for freedom of expression in Ireland and around the world”.

The body’s Colm O’Gorman said it’s “another step towards a human rights compliant Constitution”.

Following the massive support for the constitutional referendums on marriage equality and the ban on abortion, O’Gorman said voters placed freedom at the forefront of this weekend’s vote:

The Humanist Association of Ireland is also welcoming the decision, ceo Noeleen Hartigan said it’s “another significant milestone for Ireland in becoming a modern, secular and more compassionate society”.

The news has been welcomed across the globe, with many outlets speaking to the link between the decision and an investigation into whether or not comedian Stephen Fry broke the blasphemy law when he appeared on RTÉ in recent years.

If RTÉ’s exit poll proves accurate, as expected, the crime of blasphemy will be removed from the constitution. The law had been enacted under an update to Ireland’s defamation laws in 2009.

At present, the Constitution says that publishing or saying something blasphemous is an offence punishable under law. This weekend’s decision will mean the removal of that law from our constitution.

Once Michael D Higgins is officially re-elected as President, counting in the Blasphemy referendum will begin. However individual returning officers (the people who head up the count centres in each constituency) may decide to send home staff for the night and delay the count until tomorrow morning.</s>Exit polls suggest that the 'Yes' vote for removing the Blasphemy law from the constitution might be between 69% and 71%.

The RTÃ exit poll also showed an overwhelming majority, 71% have agreed to remove the reference to blasphemy from the Irish Constitution.

While the Irish Times poll conducted by Ipsos/MRBI suggests 69% voted Yes to the referendum.

Michael Nugent from Atheist Ireland says if that is accurate, it will be a great result for freedom of religion, belief, and speech.

"We have to remember that they are only exit polls, they are not official results," said Mr Nugent.

"But even given the largest possible margin of error, it's very positive.

"Whatever the result, we would like to thank everybody who has campaigned for nearly a decade to make this referendum happen and to achieve such a good vote.

"Hopefully, when the full results come in we will have removed a medieval crime from our constitution."
Voters re-elect Michael D. Higgins as President of Ireland and vote to remove the offense of blasphemy from the Constitution, with winning margins of over 30% in both votes, according to exit polls.