From: John P. Looney (john at domain antefacto.com)
Date: Tue 16 Oct 2001 - 10:56:30 IST
On Tue, Oct 16, 2001 at 10:53:30AM +0100, Dave Neary mentioned:
> 1. The right of the citizens to express freely their convictions
> and opinions.
>
> The education of public opinion being, however, a matter of such grave
> import to the common good, the State shall endeavour to ensure that
> organs of public opinion, such as the radio, the press, the cinema,
> while preserving their rightful liberty of expression, including
> criticism of Government policy, shall not be used to undermine public
> order or morality or the authority of the State.
Hmm. But they still managed to get Frank Hall banished off the telly. And
Dermot Morgan was similarly hounded.
> The publication or utterance of blasphemous, seditious, or indecent
> matter is an offence which shall be punishable in accordance with law.
And, this is something so vauge that any civil rights head should rightly
be skeptical of any free speech.
> 3. The right of the citizens to form associations and unions.
> Laws, however, may be enacted for the regulation and control in the
> public interest of the exercise of the foregoing right.
As long as they aren't outlawed associations. Curiously, the "Real IRA"
aren't such an association.
> In other words, freedom of speech is allowed, except where said speech
> is seditious, undermines the authority of the state, indecent or
> blasphemous (my favourite).
Well, the Life Of Brian was banned here for eleven years or so, until Sky
started broadcasting it in over satellite...
Kate
-- _______________________________________ John Looney Chief Scientist a n t e f a c t o t: +353 1 8586004 www.antefacto.com f: +353 1 8586014
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