Jim O'Keeffe
Question:33 Mr. J. O'Keeffe asked the Minister for Justice whether she has set up any review of the position of cults in Ireland following the events in Waco, Texas, USA; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
Written Answers. - Curbing of Cult Activities.
Martin Cullen
Question:44 Mr. Cullen asked the Minister for Justice if, in view of the appalling tragedy in Waco, Texas, USA, she has satisfied herself that adequate safeguards exist to protect young Irish people from intensive recruitment campaigns by cult organisations; if not, her views on whether the Government should introduce legislation to curb the activities of such organisations; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
I propose to take Questions Nos. 33 and 44 together.
The Constitution guarantees the free profession and practice of religion and it would be neither constitutional nor practical to proscribe or restrict organisations professing themselves as religious bodies. It would clearly be very difficult to distinguish in legislation between cults and established religions.
In the aftermath of the Waco tragedy, however, this is perhaps an opportune moment to emphasise that no organisation is above the law. The constitutional freedom to practice religion is subject to public order and morality and no one, therefore, can shelter from the civil and criminal law behind a pretence of religious practice. No organisation such as the Deputies refer to may detain a person against his or her will or in any other way act unlawfully and anyone who suspects that such an organisation is acting contrary to the law should report the matter to the Garda Síochána.