A blasphemy investigation into Stephen Fry has prompted New Zealand's major political parties to commit to repealing the country's blasphemy laws.

The Irish police investigation into the comedian and actor was dropped after detectives failed to find enough people who had been outraged by his remarks.

Asked what he would say if he was confronted by God at the pearly gates of heaven, Fry replied: “I’d say, bone cancer in children? What’s that about?"

He went on to call ask why he should "respect a capricious, mean-minded, stupid God who creates a world that is so full of injustice and pain."

News of the investigation brought to light the existence of blasphemy laws in New Zealand, which neither the prime minister nor the Anglican archbishop were aware of.

It led the country's major parties to commit to repealing the blasphemy laws, with an amendment to a bill to repeal laws expected in the next few weeks.

Prime Minister Bill English said he was not aware the laws existed, but said "we could get rid of them."

"Laws that overreach on addressing robust speech are not a good idea," he added.

Stephen Fry's Finest Quotes Show all 19 1 /19 Stephen Fry's Finest Quotes Stephen Fry's Finest Quotes On Being Bipolar "There’s a moment in the film where I recognised that this was the last moment we filmed before this wave of depression came over me, and I was idiotic or victim enough, or whatever one wants to call it, of this mad compulsion." Getty Images Stephen Fry's Finest Quotes On Taking Cocaine At Buckingham Palace "I take this opportunity to apologise unreservedly, to the owners, managers or representatives of the noble and ignoble premises and to the hundreds of private homes, offices, car dashboards, tables, mantelpieces and available polished surfaces that could so easily have been added to this list of shame." Stephen Fry's Finest Quotes On His Age "I don't need you to remind me of my age. I have a bladder to do that for me." Stephen Fry's Finest Quotes On Swearing "It would be impossible to imagine going through life without swearing and without enjoying swearing." Getty Images Stephen Fry's Finest Quotes On TV "I don't watch television. It destroys the art of talking about oneself." PA Stephen Fry's Finest Quotes On Happiness "Having a great intellect is no path to being happy." Stephen Fry's Finest Quotes On Technology "One technology doesn't replace another, it complements. Books are no more threatened by Kindle than stairs by elevators." PA Stephen Fry's Finest Quotes On Being On Stage "You are who you are when nobody's watching." Geraint Lewis Stephen Fry's Finest Quotes On Education "Education is the sum of what students teach each other between lectures and seminars." Getty Images Stephen Fry's Finest Quotes On Creativity "An original idea. That can't be too hard. The library must be full of them." Getty Stephen Fry's Finest Quotes On Journalism "Many people would no more think of entering journalism than the sewage business - which at least does us all some good." PA WIRE Stephen Fry's Finest Quotes On Love "Love in all eight tones and all five semitones of the word's full octave." PA Stephen Fry's Finest Quotes On The English Accent "A cut glass English accent can fool unsuspecting Americans into detecting a brilliance that isn't there." REX Stephen Fry's Finest Quotes On Being An Author "I get an urge, like a pregnant elephant, to go away and give birth to a book." Stephen Fry's Finest Quotes On Homosexuality "I’ve never wanted one extra gay person in the world, there are plenty of us around." Susannah Ireland / The Independent Stephen Fry's Finest Quotes On Christmas "Christmas to a child is the first terrible proof that to travel hopefully is better to arrive." Stephen Fry's Finest Quotes On Clichés "It is a cliché that most clichés are true, but then like most clichés, that cliché is untrue. Sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will always hurt me." BBC Stephen Fry's Finest Quotes On Smoking "I think I have always linked smoking and sex. Maybe this is where I have been going wrong all my life." Getty Images Stephen Fry's Finest Quotes On Homophobia "Homosexuals are not interested in making other people homosexuals. Homophobes are interested in making other people homophobic."

In New Zealand, blasphemy remains punishable by up to a year in prison.

However, the law has not been used since 1922, when it formed the basis of one unsuccessful prosecution.

Andrew Copson, chief executive of the British Humanist Association, said: "We are delighted that the investigation against Stephen Fry has been dropped, and what is more that the furore has prompted New Zealand to pledge to scrap its own blasphemy laws.

"It is urgent that Ireland soon follows, as well as Northern Ireland, Scotland, and other countries that have apparently 'dead' blasphemy laws.