Emer Higgins (Dublin Mid West, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I welcome this initiative to include hate speech and hate crime in the Treaty of the Functioning of the European Union. I fully support Ireland's approval of the initiative to extend the list of EU crimes. In Ireland, hate crimes are on the rise. Hate crimes and related incidents increased by more than 80% in the first six months of 2021, according to Garda figures. On a positive note, this increase may be due in part to people feeling more encouraged to report crimes of this nature because we are improving our recognition of hate speech and hate crimes and learning to stand up to them and call them out when we see them. That is welcome but it still points firmly to a growing prevalence of hate crimes and hate speech in Ireland. Sadly, this phenomenon is not unique to our country. There is a similar trend around the world and across Europe, with hate speech and hate crime becoming a worryingly staple behaviour in the real world and the virtual online world.

I know the Minister is working on furthering the Criminal Justice (Hate Crime) Bill, which would give us increased powers to deal with perpetrators of crimes motivated by prejudice, whether that prejudice relates to race, colour, nationality, religion, sexuality or other protected characteristics. That is welcome but at an EU level there is no legal basis to criminalise hate speech and hate crime. I was shocked by that. I did not realise it and was surprised to learn it given how prevalent these crimes are. In recent weeks, the invasion of Ukraine by Russia has re-emphasised to many of us the importance of our connection to Europe and the EU and the importance of being able to take part in a unified response to a crisis or threat. Creating an EU basis for criminalising these offences allows us collectively to recognise the threat that hate speech and hate crime pose. They are a threat to safety and decency, to our right to be different and celebrate unique identities, and to our democracy, a pillar which we recognise, now more than ever, is imperative to our peaceful existence.

Online hate speech is probably the crime that unites us most at EU level, given how fast hate speech on social media can spread and how quickly it can be accessible to everybody, providing multiple opportunities for people to weigh in with hate-filled comments. In many cases, the veil of social media gives users a kind of virtual Dutch courage to share and spread hate speech that they probably would not do in the real world. In other cases, it can be the jumping-off point for bigots, racists, misogynists and people who will become extremists, egged on by an echo chamber of people who share in hate. We desperately need a united EU approach that recognises online hate speech as dangerous and criminal. Most importantly, users need to understand that engaging in hate crimes online is no different from perpetrating them in real life. Both should be treated with the same severity.

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