Paul Murphy (Dublin South West, RISE) | Oireachtas source

That was freedom of expression in operation. Freedom of expression is the freedom not to agree. Does the Minister of State accept there is a risk here, that we are engaged in a sensitive and risky area that touches on the right to freedom of expression and that although it is appropriate that hate speech and hate crime is dealt with, it is very important that the right to freedom of expression is defended? Ironically, it is kind of related to the fact that we are attempting to get rid of a specific defence of religious discourse because we do not see the grounds on which religion in particular should be a specific defence. In general, however, it is important to take account of the fact that people have the right to freedom of expression and, therefore, there is a balancing act here. It is clearly good practice to have an explicit reference to the ECHR in that regard.

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