Cian O'Callaghan
Question:573. Deputy Cian O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Justice the status of the hate crime review and proposed legislation; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [39565/20]
View answerTuesday, 1 December 2020
Questions (573)
Written answers
My Department is working to prepare new legislation on hate crime and hate speech as a priority. This is in accordance with the commitment in the Programme for Government to introduce such legislation within the first twelve months.
As part of this work a comprehensive public consultation has been carried out which included an online survey and an opportunity for stakeholders to make formal submissions. This consultation was conducted to ensure that the Department fully understands the lived experience of those impacted by hate speech and hate crime as well as the views of professionals and other stakeholders in the field. This is necessary to ensure the laws developed are robust, clearly understood and effective.
I am pleased with the high level of engagement by the public with this important topic and can inform the Deputy that my Department received in the region of 3,800 written responses to the consultation, including approximately 175 detailed written submissions.
In addition to this comprehensive consultation and in order to ensure that the final legislation will be effective, my Department has also carried out comparative research on international best practice on hate crime legislation.
In response to the question on when the results of this work will be published, I expect to publish the report on the public consultation, together with the comparative research on international approaches in the coming weeks.
The purpose of this work is to ensure that the legislative proposals presented are evidence-based, proportionate and effective, while respecting important rights to freedom of expression and association.
There will be a further opportunity for stakeholders to share their views when the legislative proposals on this important issue are published for discussion and I intend to bring a General Scheme to Government for approval early in 2021.