Irish Senator Traveler criticizes scrapping of hate speech law amid ‘worrying rise in intolerance’ • GCN

In a recent debate in the Seanad, independent Senator Eileen Flynn, a member of the Traveler community, called on the Irish government to take steps to introduce legislation on hate crime and speech, warning against ” the dangerous and worrying rise of intolerance and intimidation.” , and violence against minority communities.”

Earlier in September, Justice Minister Helen McEntee confirmed that her department was abandoning plans to introduce new hate speech provisions into Irish law after sparking cross-party criticism. Instead, the Government is only acting on proposals on hate crime, with the intention of submitting the Bill to the Dáil this autumn.

Replacing McEntee during the Seanad debate and reading his statement, Minister of State Anne Rabbitt explained that the hate speech proposals will be removed from the Incitement to Violence or Hate and Hate Offenses Bill of 2022 during the committee phases. As reported by Irish Examinershe cited a “lack of consensus” within the Oireachtas on certain definitions in the bill, including what constitutes hate speech.

Responding to the Irish government’s decision, independent senator Eileen Flynn said the country’s minorities “cannot wait” for the Hate Crime and Speech Act to be introduced, stressing that people witness “every day the rise of the extreme right. » in Ireland.

The senator urged Minister McEntee to follow through on his initial promises to update Ireland’s hate speech legislation through the provisions originally included in the bill. Flynn said “now is the time for strong hate crime legislation,” citing the Coalition Against Hate Crimes, a group of 23 civil society organizations, which said the laws were “long overdue.” a long time “.

She also said the minister should stop seeking consensus among “white, upper-class politicians” and instead consult minority groups, who are those in dire need of hate speech laws.

“We cannot wait,” the senator reiterated. “For a year and a half, we have seen the rise of the extreme right every day in the streets. We are witnessing a dangerous and worrying rise in intolerance, intimidation and violence against minority communities.

According to figures released by An Garda Síochána, the number of hate crimes and hate incidents reported last year increased by 12% compared to 2022. As evidenced in a recent report, despite the significant increase in crimes and hate speech Due to incidents targeting minority groups in Ireland, the number of prosecutions remains low.

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