The Coalition Against Hate Crime is disappointed that the Minister for Justice and government have decided to drop the incitement or hate speech sections of the Criminal Justice (Incitement to Violence or Hatred and Hate Offences) Bill 2022. While we feel this is a missed opportunity to strengthen legislation on extreme hate speech, we nonetheless welcome their commitment to pass the hate crime sections of the legislation.

In a climate of increasing intolerance, hostility and violence towards marginalised communities, we – organisations representing communities that are directly targeted – know how important it is that our country has fit-for-purpose legislation on extreme hate speech.

The government must now move quickly and decisively to ensure that the long-overdue hate crime legislation is debated and passed urgently, within this government’s term of office, and that any attempts to weaken its protections are firmly resisted. After many years of communities campaigning for Ireland to introduce hate crime legislation and calls from international human rights bodies, this will be a significant step forward. Ireland will no longer be one of few EU countries without hate crime legislation, sending a clear message that such behaviour is not tolerated in our society and responding to the growing need of targeted communities to feel safer.

Progress on tackling hate cannot leave incitement to violence behind. EU commitments, which the government cannot sidestep, require legislation in this area. The Prohibition of Incitement to Hatred Act 1989 is widely regarded as inadequate and needs to be updated. The Coalition will continue to campaign for legislation to counter extreme hate speech, coupled with a holistic strategy to address the roots of hate in our society.