Ms Sin?ad Lucey:

Hate is a growing problem in our society and there has to be a legislative response to it. FLAC would be supportive of legislation in the area. One of the things we have said before, and this is probably the perspective of an organisation dealing with individual clients, is that victims of hate speech and hate crime should not be passive in the process, whatever remedies are in place, and they should own their own remedy. It is not just a criminal matter. There may also be a civil aspect to it linked to equality legislation, where a victim of hate speech or hate crime can seek a civil remedy as well, rather than just being dependent on the Garda Síochána, the DPP or whoever else to make a decision about whether they have been a victim and whether this will be prosecuted. It requires a legislative response.