Justice Minister Helen McEntee has affirmed that the proposal to instate hate speech laws has been shelved by the government. Nonetheless, McEntee emphasised that law against hate crimes, despite signalling a deviation from her original commitment, would continue to feature in the criminal legislation.
During her address in Athlone, McEntee assured her plans to integrate amendments at the committee stage to the Criminal Justice (Incitement to Violence or Hatred and Hate Offences) Bill 2022 in the Seanad. She acknowledged that the “incitement to hatred” clause is yet to reach a consensus and will be addressed subsequently.
The Minister informed that she discussed her proposed amendments to the bill with the trifecta of Coalition parties during the summer. McEntee remains steadfast in ensuring the enactment of hate crime law. According to her, the law demonstrates a robust message that assaults on an individual or group based on their identity, race, or origin would result in severe punishment.
The sanction would be more severe if it can be proven that the offence was motivated by hate. The not-so-straightforward bill has sparked controversy among backbenchers, opposition parties, freedom of speech groups, and even tech mogul Elon Musk. The uncertainty surrounding the definition of hate speech, along with the broad categories of offence or hatred and the threat to free speech have opened the bill up to much scrutiny and critique.
Echoing McEntee’s viewpoint, Finance Minister, Paschal Donohoe emphasised the government’s commitment to addressing hate crime’s risk to society during his speech at the Fine Gael Small Business and Enterprise Conference in Athlone.
Donohoe admitted that some parts of the law could not gain the required consensus and that the primary tenet of the bill remains unscathed. He alluded to the necessity of focusing on harmful incitements that he considers both dangerous and deserving of increased penalties and sanctions.