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Bill on hate crimes passes all stages

A bill that would provide for higher sentences for crimes motivated by hatred has passed all stages in the Oireachtas. 

Minister for Justice Helen McEntee had brought the bill back to the Dáil last night (23 October) with amendments that had passed the Seanad last week.  

The amendments removed the parts of the Criminal Justice (Hate Offences) Bill 2022 that dealt with incitement to violence or hatred, which had proved controversial. 

Increased sentences 

The bill will provide for increased prison sentences for certain crimes, where proven to be motivated by hatred, or where hatred is demonstrated.  

For example, assault aggravated by hatred, or damage to property aggravated by hatred, will attract higher prison sentences.  

The legislation will protect people targeted because of certain identity characteristics – including race, colour, nationality, religion, national or ethnic origin, descent, disability, gender, sex characteristics, and sexual orientation. 

1989 act 

Describing the legislation as “much-needed”, the minister said that Ireland was one of the last countries in the EU not to have specific hate-crime offences set out in law. 

“Making the decision to remove the incitement to violence or hatred provisions was a difficult one; but it was necessary to move forward to put the hate-crime provisions into law,” said the minister. 

She stated that the Prohibition of Incitement to Hatred Act 1989 would remain in force, but added that it needed to be updated, “particularly in the context of modern online communications”.