The Criminal Justice
(Incitement to Violence or Hatred and Hate Offences) Bill
2022 (the "Bill") will, if
enacted in its current form, be a radical update to the law in
relation to hate crime. In this Insight, we consider what the Bill
seeks to achieve, including in particular the corporate offences
envisaged, as well as its legislative journey since its publication
on 1 November 2022.
Purpose of the Bill
The Bill will expand the regulation of hate crimes in Ireland
considerably. Currently, a hate speech offence can be found in the
Prohibition of Incitement to Hatred Act 1989 (the
"1989 Act"). The Bill will repeal the
1989 Act in its entirety, to introduce the following new
offences
