Politics watch: Apology to Stardust victims' families, hate speech legislation

James Cox

Here, we have a look at the topics likely to dominate political debate in the week to come.

Stardust apology

The Dáil returns on Tuesday and Taoiseach Simon Harris will make an official state apology to the families of the victims of the Stardust nightclub fire.

Relatives of some of the 48 people killed in the fire at a Dublin nightclub in 1981 are to receive a State apology after a jury returned a verdict that they were unlawfully killed.

Families who have fought for justice for their loved ones who died in the Stardust blaze met Mr Harris on Saturday.

The 'acknowledgement and apology' is scheduled for 2.01pm.

At 7.23pm, Sinn Féin are scheduled to table a motion on the Stardust tragedy. After meeting families of the victims, Sinn Féin leader Mary Lou McDonald indicated it would call for a State apology, so it is uncertain what the motion will be about now.

Hate speech legislation

Taoiseach Simon Harris has said he intends to pass an amended version of the Criminal Justice (Incitement to Violence or Hatred and Hate Offences) Bill 2022 before the next general election.

Politicians have been wrangling over the wording of the Bill, which aims to overhaul 1989 incitement to hatred legislation and introduce laws that would see “hate” become an aggravating factor in certain offences.

Concerns have been raised around a lack of clarity on what “hate” means, and what impact the legislation could have on freedom of speech.

The legislation is certain to be a key topic of debate in the Dáil this week.

Emails from constituents that politicians forwarded to the Department of Justice, seen by BreakingNews.ie after a Freedom of Information request, showed concerns about the definition of hate in the proposed legislation.

Abroad

In the UK, British parliamentary deadlock over Rishi Sunak’s Rwanda deportation plan continues. The British prime minister is coming under increasing pressure as the public waits for the date for a general election, which will come later this year, to be announced.

In the US, president Joe Biden has told Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskiy that the US will send badly needed air defence weaponry once the Senate approves a massive national security aid package that includes $61 billion (€57 billion) for Ukraine.

Mr Zelenskiy said on social media that the US president also assured him that a coming package of aid would include long-range and artillery capabilities.

Ukraine is awaiting US Senate approval after the House of Representatives this weekend approved the $95 billion package that also includes aid for other allies.

Meanwhile, former president Donald Trump's hush money trial has kicked off. Mr Trump is the first former US president to be criminally prosecuted.