Ahern defends decision not to have a referendum on blasphemy law

The former Justice Minister who brought in Ireland's blasphemy law has spoken about why he didn't put it to a referendum.

Dermot Ahern was in office when the 2009 Defamation Act was completed, and he's been speaking after it emerged Gardai are looking into a complaint against Stephen Fry over comments he made about God on RTE. Mr Ahern says the constitution requires the law be in place, but he framed his version in a way that would make it virtually impossible to take a prosecution. He says he made a 'judgement call' that a referendum - which could have scrapped the law - wouldn't be a popular choice, in the middle of the economic crash.