Joint Committee on Justice to begin pre-legislative scrutiny of the General Scheme of the Criminal Justice (Hate Crimes) Bill 2021

The meeting at 5.30pm in Committee Room 4 of Leinster House will hear from:

• Dr Seamus Taylor, Head of Department of Applied Social Studies, Maynooth University;
• Representatives of Pavee Point: Traveller and Roma Centre;
• Representatives of Nasc: Migrant and Refugee Rights;
• Representatives of European Centre for the Study of Hate;
• Officials from the Department of Justice.

Committee Cathaoirleach Deputy James Lawless said: “The Criminal Justice (Hate Crime) Bill 2021 is intended to replace the 1989 Incitement to Hatred Act. The legislation is split into two parts, dealing separately with Incitement to Hatred and Hate Crime. Stakeholders have raised a number of issues of concern in the Heads of the Bill, including around overly broad defences to a prosecution for Incitement to Hatred. The Committee looks forward to discussing these and related matters with our stakeholders and the Department officials as part of our scrutiny of this legislation.”

The Joint Committee on Justice has 14 Members, nine from the Dáil and five from the Seanad.

The meeting in Committee Room 4 can be viewed live on Oireachtas TV.

Committee proceedings can also be viewed on the Houses of the Oireachtas Smartphone App, available for Apple and Android devices.