Alan Farrell (Dublin Fingal, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister for the opportunity to discuss this important motion. In recent years we as a society have become more aware of the corrosive and insidious problem of hate crime and hate speech. The advent of social media has connected the world in ways that until recently were beyond imagination. Unfortunately this is not the first war to be seen on social media but it certainly feels like it. I think it was in its infancy on the last occasion there was a significant dispute around the world.

The Internet and social media have brought many positives to the world and our own lives and communities. However, we can be blind to the serious issues that have been created in the process. The anonymity of social media and the Internet in general not only allows for a plethora of serious crimes to be committed but also for highly personalised attacks on public and private people. There is no Member of the Oireachtas who will have escaped the direct abuse and threats that have been given a refuge on social media. This is also happening to private citizens and whole communities, however, with frightening regularity. It may be because of ethnicity, creed, sexual orientation or indeed any reason at all. The inclusion of hate crimes and hate speech under article 83 is a positive step to rooting out this behaviour and ensuring that these crimes will not go unpunished.

It is fitting in the week marking International Women's Day that we highlight that the Minister has been working on specific measures to expand protections under the hate crime legislation. I understand it is the intention of the Minister to publish the Bill before Easter and to target stalking and non-fatal strangulation, making them criminal offences. Furthermore a new hate crime Bill due this summer will target defined incidents resulting from certain characterisations including gender, which will mean that those types of crimes can be prosecuted as hate crimes where they are motivated by misogyny. I also believe we can sharpen our ability to detect, collect and act upon data with specific regard to hate crimes and similar offences. I speak in particular about the recording of racially motivated attacks and how these incidents are conveyed between the institutions of the State.

I note that in her state of the Union address, President Von der Leyen highlighted with particular emphasis the expansion of the list of hate crimes and hate speech with regard to definitions and repercussions. Ultimately we must strive in this House and right across the European Union to make progress to achieve a warmer and more inclusive and equal society across Europe. Unfortunately, we have seen in the past two weeks how years of progress and advancement can be rolled back and that we can find ourselves facing challenges we thought we had consigned to history. We are reminded in such a time that progress is never guaranteed. We must continually strive to tackle misogyny, racism, xenophobia, homophobia and more. The work will never be fully completed but by expanding our legislation to support moral and ethical progress we can begin to turn the tide in this effort.

To paraphrase Abraham Lincoln, in appealing to the better angels of our nature, this message given to the world during a conflict driven by racism reminds us that hatred of the "Other" is a problem we have faced for millennia. I commend the Minister and the work she is doing to protect those who find themselves the victims of hate crime or hate speech and to defend the rights of all people who call Ireland their home, be they citizens or not, be they here for the long term or the short term. If we allow the fabric of our society to be pulled, we cannot ensure the long-term stability of any community or group in Ireland will prevail.

I ask that we continue to engage with minorities and our communities, to listen to their lived experience and understanding of the Ireland they see. By doing so we can build a stronger and safer Ireland for everybody who is here now and who will follow in their footsteps. I echo the comments of the previous speaker who said Members of the Oireachtas must lead by example. How very true. I encourage all Members to take note of it.

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