Mr. Liam Herrick:

Sure. Dr. Elliott might add on the data points as well. We made detailed submissions on what was to become the hate offences Act at the time. As the Deputy will recall, the original intention of the previous Government, and its initial proposal, was that the legislation would deal with the review of the Prohibition of Incitement to Hatred Act 1989. Subsequently, there was a decision that it would also address the provision of hate crimes in Irish law. I think we are all familiar with the fact that, ultimately, the provisions regarding incitement to hatred were removed from the legislation. At that point, however, there was a commitment by the outgoing Government, and it was retained by the incoming Government in its programme for Government, that the question of incitement to hatred legislation would be revisited. It is the general view of all of the principal human rights bodies at the UN and at Council of Europe level that Ireland's law on incitement to hatred is deficient. Of most legal significance here is that the European Union has taken a view that the law as it currently stands is not compatible with the relevant European Union framework directive.