Dr. Seamus Taylor:

I have sweeping concerns about disability. One particular further concern that I want to bring to the attention of the committee relates to the Good Friday Agreement. Hate crime legislation is non-discrimination legislation. It is in the family of equality and human rights legislation within the context of criminal law. It somewhat mirrors employment equality law and equal status law. As part of the Good Friday Agreement, there is a commitment to ensuring parity of protection on the grounds of equality and human rights in the North and in the Republic of Ireland. If this Bill is enacted as set out, there will be a much more complex and higher legal threshold to be met for victims of hate crime in the Republic than in the North. This is not in keeping with either the spirit or the substance of the Good Friday Agreement.