Right to Freedom of Expression
Information
The Constitution (Bunreacht na hÉireann) guarantees your right in Ireland to freely express your convictions and opinions. However, it also asserts that the state should try to make sure that the radio, the press and the cinema are not used to undermine public order or morality or the authority of the state.
The Constitution also states that it is an offence to publish or utter blasphemous, seditious or indecent matter.
There are many limitations on your freedom of expression. For example, the Censorship of Publications Acts and the Censorship of Films Acts allow censorship of publications like books and films.
Your right to freedom of expression is set down in Article 40 of the Constitution. You can view the full text of the (pdf) Irish Constitution here.
Language
Related Documents
- Censorship of Films in Ireland
The Irish Film Classification Office examines all films and videos intended for public viewing in Ireland to see if they are fit to be viewed by the public and classifies films and videos according to their suitability for different age groups. - Religious Liberty
The right to religious liberty, as guaranteed by the Irish Constitution. - Fundamental Rights under the Irish Constitution
The Irish Constitution recognises and declares that you have certain fundamental personal rights. These rights are natural human rights - they come from being human and are confirmed and protected by the Constitution.
Contact Us
If you have a question relating to this topic you can contact the Citizens Information Phone Service on 0761 07 4000 (Monday to Friday, 9am to 9pm) or you can visit your local Citizens Information Centre.