Minister for Justice Helen McEntee has confirmed she is not pushing ahead with the introduction of new hate speech laws, as revealed in The Irish Times.
However, the Minister insisted she will press ahead with the hate crime part of the criminal justice legislation, despite it being seen as a row-back on her commitment.
Speaking in Athlone, she confirmed that she plans to include committee stage amendments to the Criminal Justice (Incitement to Violence or Hatred and Hate Offences) Bill 2022 in the Seanad.
Minister McEntee said that the "incitement to hatred” element of the bill does “not have a consensus”, and shall be dealt with at a later time.
The Minister added that she brought her proposed bill changes to the three coalition parties over the summer months.
Ms McEntee continued that she is “adamant" that hate crime legislation would be enacted.
She pointed out that the legislation will provide a very clear message in that "if you attack a person, if you commit a crime against a person or a group of people, simply because of who they are, the colour of their skin, where they have come from that there will be a tougher sentence, a harsher sentence at the end of the day”.
Tougher sentences
This provides for tougher sentences where hate is proven as a motivation for an offence.
The problematic bill has been viewed as controversial by backbenchers, opposition parties, as well as free speech groups and tech billionaire Elon Musk.
From the start. The bill has been viewed as being vague in its lack of definition around hate speech, the extended range of categories to which hatred or offence could be caused, and perceived dangers to free speech led to much questioning and criticism.
Her sentiments were echoed by Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform Paschal Donohoe at the Fine Gael Small Business and Enterprise Conference today in Athlone.
Minister Donohoe said the Government remains “very committed to dealing with the dangers that hate crime” poses within our society.
He highlighted that the Government believes the “greatest strength of our society is ensuring that we can maintain tolerance, that we can maintain diversity and then we deal with some of the incitements to violence and harm that unfortunately are becoming more of a regular feature of how discussions and debate that takes place within our country”.
Minister Donohoe reiterated that Minister McEntee will be bringing forward a number of changes to this legislation within the Seanad.
“We accept with respect to some parts of it we have not been able to generate a consensus and agreement that is needed for such an important part of legislation but the main thrust of it will remain intact.
"(This is) in dealing with issues and dealing with incitements to harm that we accept that are a danger and we believe to be subject to higher penalty and sanction,” the Minister concluded.
