Michael Healy-Rae (Kerry, Independent) | Oireachtas source

It is ironic that we are discussing this issue at a time when the incidence of hate speech and crime has seen a sharp increase across Europe and has become particularly serious and worrying, both offline and online. That is before even starting to talk about what is happening in Ukraine. The common EU action is needed to tackle this EU-wide challenge. However, there is currently no legal basis for criminalising hate speech and hate crimes at EU level. The existing list of crimes in the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union needs to be extended to ensure there are minimum common rules on how to define criminal offences and sanctions applicable in all member states.

It would be wrong not to speak about how we all were both glad and sad this morning that the Ukrainian ambassador had to come here. We were all very welcoming of her and it gave us an opportunity to hear at first hand what is happening and explain how upset we all are. What can we call what is happening if not a hate crime? It is the result of one individual's hatred and desire to take over and invade a peaceful people. It is beyond belief. Most of us never thought we would live to see something like this happening in our time. We must stand united and help in every way we can, whether by finding accommodation for people coming to this country or ensuring there is funding to provide them with an acceptable lifestyle and access to education when they are living here.

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