Justice Minister Helen McEntee without mandate is attempting to introduce legislation that will patently undermine the fundamental right of speech in Ireland.
The Incitement to Hatred and Hate Crime Bill – the Hate Speech and Hate Crime Bill is currently at the final drafting stage and is scheduled to be introduced in the autumn when completed.
The purported aim of the legislation is to tackle hateful speech, however it is extreme in measure, poorly defined, and could potentially be used to prosecute minority opinion in Ireland.
A failed policy in the UK, this will empower Gardaí to pursue and prosecute any statement perceived to be prejudiced.
This is a waste of valuable Garda time and resources and contrary to your constitutional freedoms.
As recently as 2018 we affirmed the right to free speech in the Blasphemy Referendum. This move is a step backward to an Ireland none of us want.
Furthermore, it is stated in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights that freedom of speech is a human right.
So called Hate Speech laws are a savage hypocrisy: they would do more to divide communities in Ireland by highlighting that they are different and thus should be treated differently under the law.
Free Speech Ireland is an organisation that will fight against these new excessive laws and is appealing to McEntee to reverse these plans.
The Incitement to Hatred and Crime Bill is an affront to Irish democracy and must be stopped.
Contact your local TD. Details of which can be found on www.whoismytd.com