Minister for Justice resists calls to ditch hate speech legislation

By Cate McCurry, PA

The Minister for Justice has resisted calls to ditch the upcoming hate speech legislation, saying people do not feel safe in the country.

Helen McEntee is coming under pressure to scrap the legislation over concerns about its impact on freedom of speech.

Former justice minister Charlie Flanagan said it should be “brought back to the drawing board”, while Fine Gael TD Michael Ring called for the Government to abandon the Bill.

Sinn Féin’s spokesman for justice Pa Daly also called for the Bill to be ditched, saying it is was “badly thought through and is not fit for purpose”.

However, Sinn Féin supported the Bill when it went through the Dáil last year.

The proposed legislation has been stuck in the Seanad since last year, after concerns were raised about the lack of definition around the word “hate”.

Ms McEntee said: “I think it is the case for every party, there are people with different views, not just on this legislation.

“This is an important Programme for Government commitment. People in our country do not feel safe simply because of who they are.

“Hate crime is on the increase. That’s being made clear to me by members of An Garda Síochana.

“That’s why we’re progressing this legislation while updating old legislation that we have from 1989.

“But as has been the case for any legislation that I’ve brought forward, I’m listening to and I’m engaging with colleagues where issues and concerns have been raised.

“I’m taking them on board with a number of amendments that have been developed.”