This is worrisome:

DUBLIN — The Irish government plans to bring into force a new law in October that critics say is a return to medieval justice.

The legislation, aimed at providing judges with clear direction on the 1937 Constitution’s blasphemy prohibition, imposes a fine of up to 25,000 euros – about $39,000 – for anyone who “publishes or utters matter that is (intentionally meant to be) grossly abusive or insulting in relation to matters held sacred by any religion, thereby causing outrage among a substantial number of the adherents of that religion.”

Police with a search warrant will be able to enter private premises and use “reasonable force” to obtain incriminating evidence.

But here’s the bizarre part:

[Michael Nugent, chairman of the group Atheist Ireland] said his group intends to come up with a suitably outrageous blasphemy to challenge the law if Ireland’s justice minister, Dermot Ahern, implements the law – passed by parliament in July – in October.

Ahern has angrily dismissed critics, arguing that, as a republican, he would have preferred to have no blasphemy law at all.

He said he was obliged to come up with clear provisions after the Supreme Court, in a blasphemy ruling a decade ago, dismissed the case because the state had provided no clear definition or sanctions.

[snip]

Atheist Ireland’s Nugent also noted that three previous justice ministers never felt the need to respond to the 1999 court decision.

While Ahern has said the likelihood of a blasphemy prosecution is minimal, Nugent said the law as written creates an incentive for groups to show the kind of widespread “outrage” required to justify a prosecution.

So they’re passing a new law, on a rationale that no one thought compelling for the last ten years, but they’re offering vague promises that they probably won’t use it? Right… But I am glad to hear the Irish atheists are planning suitable shenanigans to show the world how idiotic laws like this are.