Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I have outlined the issue regarding bias and prejudice, and the reasons for that. I am happy to provide the committee with any useful information that I can. We have had very clear advice from the Office of Attorney General and have heard the concerns of the DPP about taking a definition that is useful and with which, I think, none of us has a policy problem - I certainly do not - and that is used in policy dialogue, and putting it in primary legislation. To do so would be overly prescriptive and would potentially have an unintended consequence of actually raising the bar for successful prosecution. While this legislation is not exclusively about successful prosecution, I am in agreement with Deputy Pringle's opening comments and feel that being able to successfully prosecute people who have engaged in incitement to hatred or acts of hatred is something we would all like to see in passing this legislation.

I am sure my words are not lost on the Deputy. What I am saying is that I will be considering these issues further between Committee and Report Stage. I have heard what he has said, both on Second Stage and on Committee Stage. I am outlining the problematic nature of some of these amendments in good faith. I am saying I will give further consideration to it between now and Report Stage.