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Wicklow Campaign Launches

Following the mantle of Justice Minister transferring to Simon Harris from Helen McEntee, Free Speech Ireland launched an awareness campaign in Harris’ constituency, Wicklow.

FSI activists distributed leaflets in Greystones earlier today

The Justice Minister is the sponsor of the controversial Hate Speech Bill and as such holds primary responsibility for it. Answering a question in the Oireachtas, Harris had the following to say about the Bill:

Minister McEntee published the Criminal Justice (Incitement to Violence or Hatred and Hate Offences) Bill last October which addresses both incitement to hatred or violence and hate crime.

Once enacted the Bill will criminalise any intentional or reckless communication or behaviour that is likely to incite violence or hatred against a person or persons because they are associated with a protected characteristic, and will create new “hate crime” offences where specific offences are aggravated by hate of a protected characteristic.

While the Bill could have dire ramifications for freedom of expression, Wicklow constituents had not heard of it, or that Harris was its sponsor. The following leaflet was distributed to raise awareness:

front of leaflet
back of leaflet