This week, Senator Ivana Bacik called for a debate on homophobia and free speech in Seanad Eireann.

The Senator, who appeared on Prime Time last night, said “I support the call made by my colleague, Senator Averil Power, on Thursday for a debate in the wake of the reports of the RTE payout to the Iona Institute and other named individuals. I believe she was calling for a debate on free speech in light of that.”

She added, “What we have seen over recent days and what has generated great public concern has been the emergence of a sort of chilling effect through threats of libel in the course of the debate.”

Watch her speech below.