Taoiseach Simon Harris and Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth Roderic O’Gorman have expressed a strong desire to see hate crime legislation passed before the current government’s term ends. This follows growing anticipation that an election may be called in the coming months.

Their remarks were made on Monday, August 26, in response to a report highlighting the alarming increase in threats and physical attacks against asylum seekers in Dublin, many of whom are forced to sleep in tents on the streets.

“I want to see hate crime legislation passed in the lifetime of this Government,” the Taoiseach said.

Regarding the attacks on asylum seekers, O’Gorman added: “It reminds us of the vulnerability of people sleeping rough, and it reminds us of the fact that there are people out there right now who are actively threatening people because of their nationality and their ethnicity.

“It emphasises the importance of hate crime legislation,” he continued.

Read our update in this month’s @GCNmag

Hate Crimes are on the rise.

Hatred & violence are being openly incited on social media.

It has never been more important to enact the Hate Crime Bill! #StopHate #PassTheBill. pic.twitter.com/K1G9zcK0mk

— NXF (@nxfie) August 26, 2024

Minister for Justice Helen McEntee has committed to bringing forward amendments to the Criminal Justice (Incitement to Violence or Hatred and Hate Offences) Bill 2022 in the autumn term. The bill, currently stalled in the Seanad, has been under scrutiny for over a year, as it faces challenges over the hate speech element and its definition of gender.

There has been a longstanding call for hate crime legislation in Ireland, particularly by the LGBTQ+. This was underscored by Natasha O’Brien, who took to the stage at Dublin Pride in July to demand immediate legislative action following her assault by a serving Irish soldier in 2022, who received a suspended sentence.

The bill is divided into two key sections. The first introduces harsher penalties for crimes motivated by hatred toward individuals based on protected characteristics such as age, disability, race, colour, nationality, ethnicity, religion, sexual orientation, or gender. The second part seeks to update existing hate speech laws, with the aim to facilitate more effective prosecutions for communications that are likely to incite violence or hatred against those with a protected characteristic.

The delay in passing the bill has been a major point of contention, but with recent developments, there is renewed momentum to see it through. The government’s hopeful commitment, coupled with public demand, may finally bring about the much-needed legal protections against hate crimes in Ireland.