The government has chosen to abandon the contentious proposal to implement hate speech laws, a decision applauded not only by its rank-and-file members but by proponents of free speech and technology mogul Elon Musk. This decision surfaces as the preferred choice for the majority of voters is the re-election of Fine Gæl and Fianna Fáil.
What appears to be an attempt at clearing the path for this election is the reported approval of Minister for Justice, Helen McEntee, by coalition leaders to withdraw certain segments from the contentious criminal justice legislation associated with incitement to violence and hatred, or what’s commonly seen as hate speech elements. The government will now only pursue other components related to hate crime which stipulates harsher punishment when it is established that hatred is the impetus for the crime.
In the Seanad, the minister intends to present amendments at the committee stage, scrapping the stipulation of incitement to violence and hatred from the Criminal Justice Bill 2022, whilst retaining only components concerning hate crime. The laws prohibiting incitement to hatred, which originate from 1989, will not be discarded but will instead stay in force.
Less than a sixth, only 16% of voters, prefer a Sinn Féin-led government without any participation of Fine Gael or Fianna Fáil. Sinn Féin emerges as the least favoured option for a governing party, with 37% individuals expressing their reluctance to see this party in power.
Simon Harris from Fine Gael leads the popularity race for the position of Taoiseach by a considerable margin, with 37% voters voicing their preference for him to head the country post the general election. Mary Lou McDonald, leader of Sinn Féin, has been nominated by 24% of respondents and ranks second, while only 14% have expressed support for Micheál Martin of Fianna Fáil.
Voters are equally divided on the scheduling of the election, with 36% favouring a timeline for next year and 35% preferring it to happen this year, while 27% say the timeline wouldn’t affect their decision.