Aengus Ó Snodaigh
Question:85 Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the status of the review of the hate crime legislation; and when new legislation will be published. [23425/03]
Written Answers. - Anti-Racism Measures.
The announcement of a review of the incitement to hatred legislation was made by my predecessor as Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform at a time when few if any successful prosecutions had been taken under the Prohibition of Incitement to Hatred Act 1989. One of the aims of the review was to ascertain whether problems with the Act itself were contributing to this lack of prosecutions and, if so, whether any reasonable changes to it could remedy that situation. Since the review was announced, a number of successful prosecutions have been taken under the 1989 Act and, where appropriate, under public order legislation.
In addition, three persons were recently found guilty of racist abuse on CIE property and fined in the District Court under the Coras Iompair Éireann Bye-Laws (Confirmation) Order 1984. These trends are being monitored as part of the review and if maintained could have a significant influence on the outcome of the review and any subsequent proposals for legislation.