 The bill was the brainchild of Irish Minister for Justice, Brian Lenihan originally however a shuffle in the cabinet meant Dermot Ahern would later inherit the responsibility of being the bill's steward.It was signed on the 9/7/09 with a stipulation that it would come into effect on 1 January 2010.The law indicts the act of blasphemy as follows, "A person who publishes or utters blasphemous matter shall be guilty of an offence and shall be liable upon conviction on indictment to a fine not exceeding €25,000.