Vol. 433 No. 5
3 Mr. E. Kenny asked the Minister for Equality and Law Reform if he intends introducing legislation to prohibit the holding of conferences in Ireland by groups intent on perpetuating discrimination against minorities and inciting hatred which is inimical to the achievement of equality for all regardless of their ethnic origins or religious beliefs.
I take the view that it is highly inappropriate that conferences of the kind referred to by the Deputy should be held in Ireland.
So far as my proposals for legislation are concerned, it is my intention to bring before Government shortly proposals for comprehensive anti-discrimination legislation covering employment, services and other matters. Following this legislation it is the Government's intention in accordance with the Programme for Government to ratify the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination, adopted by the General Assembly of the United Nations on 21 December 1965. Ireland signed this convention subject to ratification on 21 March 1968. These measures will supplement the existing provisions of the Prohibition of Incitement to Hatred Act, 1989.
The introduction of criminal legislation on the lines referred to by the Deputy would be a matter for the Minister for Justice.
Will the Minister state the proposed timescale for the introduction of the legislation and the signing and ratification of the agreement to which he referred?
The anti-discrimination legislation is at an advanced stage of preparation, but the Deputy must appreciate that it is particularly complex legislation involving discrimination legislation in a variety of fields and covering a wide spectrum of categories of people who are adversely affected. Consequently, I cannot give a definitive date for its introduction but it probably will be some time next year.
Does the Minister consider that the rights of European membership confer on individuals of any EC country the right to travel to another EC country without restriction? Does he envisage a position where individuals involved in perpetuating discrimination against minorities or inciting hatred might be allowed without restriction to attend in Ireland but would be subject to prosecution for an illegal offence only following confirmation of such crimes after having attended a conference or organised one here?
The question of prosecution would be a matter for the Minister for Justice, but as I indicated at the outset, a conference of the type to which Deputy Kenny referred in his question — conferences by groups intent on perpetuating discrimination against minorities and inciting hatred —per se would appear to be an infringement of the legislation and the question of prosecutions might arise. Attempts to commit offences under that Act could also arise.
