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ARTICLE · 28 NOVEMBER 2022

New Bill On Hate Speech And Hate Crimes Should Lead To Improved Outcomes For Victims

William Fry LLP
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The Minister has stated that the government is committed to ensuring that the Bill will be enacted before the end of the year.

IrelandCriminal Law
Paul Convery
Paul Convery
Adele Hall
Adele Hall
Leo Moore
Leo Moore
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On 27 October 2022, the Minister for Justice Helen McEntee (Minister) published the Criminal Justice (Incitement to Violence or Hatred and Hate Offences) Bill 2022 (Bill) to update laws criminalising hate speech and to legislate against hate crimes for the first time in Irish law. The Minister has stated that the government is committed to ensuring that the Bill will be enacted before the end of the year.

The Bill will repeal and replace the Prohibition on Incitement to Hatred Act 1989 (1989 Act), which is regarded as ineffective, securing only around 50 prosecutions in over 30 years since it was enacted. The Bill is strongly aligned to the European Council Framework Decision 2008/913/JHA on combating racism and xenophobia under the criminal law, which means that its implementation will also fulfil Ireland's EU membership obligations.

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