She said a consensus is needed to introduce new hate speech laws but admitted that support is not present.
“However, I am absolutely adamant we need new laws to ensure that if a person is attacked simply because of who they are, the person doing it to them will receive a higher sentence,” she added.
Ms McEntee said the Criminal Justice (Incitement to Violence or Hatred and Hate Offences) Bill 2022 will progress through the Seanad during the current term where she will introduce amendments to the legislation.
These amendments will remove the parts of the Bill which deal with incitement to violence and hatred.
These elements of the bill were previously criticised by free speech groups, X owner Elon Musk and some of her party’s backbench TDs.
She said the Bill will still provide for tougher sentences in cases where it is proven a crime was motivated by hatred, or where hatred is demonstrated by a perpetrator.
Former justice minister Alan Shatter accused the Government of “indefensible political cowardice and electoral opportunism utterly lacking a moral compass” over the move.
Mr Shatter cited last week’s RTÉ Prime Time Investigates documentary on “racism, hate, thuggery and abuse” at anti-immigration protests this year and said it had “illustrated the need for effective incitement to violence and hate speech laws.”
In a post on X, he said that it was “beyond comprehension that the Government reportedly now intends to remove such content from its grossly defective and inadequate Criminal Justice (Incitement to Violence or Hatred and Hate Offences) Bill 2022 instead of urgently rectifying its glaring defects.”
Mr Shatter said the proposed legislation is badly needed and controversy is no reason to abandon it.
Speaking to RTÉ today at Fine Gael’s small business and enterprise conference in Athlone, Ms McEntee said it is not possible to proceed with this part of the proposed Bill.
“We currently have incitement to hatred legislation. I believe it needs to be strengthened. However, we need a consensus to do that. We don’t currently have that, so I am moving forward with the hate crime element of the legislation,” she added.
“I made this proposal to party leaders over the summer. I believe it is important that this legislation is enacted. The incitement to hatred element did not have a consensus.
“That will be dealt with at a later stage.”
Because an election must be held before the end of March, incitement to hatred laws are unlikely to be dealt with in the current Dáil term.
Celebrating his 50th Birthday Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform of Ireland, Pascal Donohoe, was surprised with a cake and a “Happy Birthday” at the Fine Gael Small Business and Enterprise Conference at TÚS, Athlone Co. West Meath Photo:Andrew Downes, xposure
Ministers Paschal Donohoe, Peter Burke and Emer Higgins also spoke at the conference in Athlone today as the party gears up for the next election.
Public Expenditure and Reform Minister Paschal Donohoe said it was an opportunity to assess budgetary and policy measures to support small and medium sized businesses.
“We understand the challenges they have faced over the past number of years,” he added.
