Mark Ward (Dublin Mid West, Sinn Fein)

There is a need for robust legislation to tackle terrorism and terrorist activity. I know everybody can agree on this. This is needed, particularly given the current global climate. However, the vagueness in this Bill is more likely to lead to abuse by the Government to stamp out political protest, political activism and free speech.

I listened to the Minister’s speech. Intention and the glorification of terrorism are open to interpretation. We cannot have a vague Bill. I will outline why. The Minister is a Dub like myself. Like most Dubs, I was raised on songs and stories of heroes of renown, the passing tales of glories, that once was Dublin town. I could sing that song to the Minister, but that would be an offence. There is a clause in this Bill that could criminalise those of us who wish to commemorate these past heroes of renown. Will the Minister be commemorating the members of the good old IRA, like de Valera, Lemass and Collins? Were they not considered terrorists of their time by the British establishment and Government?

The language of glorifying terrorism contained in this Bill is open to interpretation. As was previously said, this is the language of the DUP, which has sought to criminalise anyone who attends commemorations of loved ones killed in the conflict in the North. I make no apology whatsoever when I attend – and I will continue to attend – commemorations of our patriot dead.

In recent weeks, we have seen Mo Chara from the rap group Kneecap being charged with terrorism offences for waiving a flag while performing on stage. There is no greater oxymoron than British justice. Kneecap has been a thorn in the side of the British Government because it represents everything the British establishment hates. They are proud Irishmen who speak and promote our native language, Irishmen who never bow to British imperialism. The clause the Minister is putting into this legislation is basically a version of British legislation. In the words of Kneecap, get your Brits out of our legislation. If Mo Chara is convicted of a terrorism offence in Britain, could I be seen in this State to be glorifying terrorists by wearing a Kneecap t-shirt like I am at this moment?

We are also on a slippery slope, given other international experiences regarding legislation of this type. Israel, for example, labels nearly every human rights organisation that works on the ground in Palestine as a terrorist organisation. Al-Haq is one such group. It is an independent Palestinian non-governmental human rights organisation based in Ramallah. It protects and promotes human rights and the rule of law in occupied Palestinian territory. I met Al-Haq in Ramallah in 2022. I visited its headquarters in Ramallah as it presented a human rights account of the murder of American journalist, Shireen Abu Akleh. Israel has deemed it a terrorist organisation. If I met Al-Haq after this legislation passed, would that make me a terrorist or someone glorifying terrorism? We should not be putting anything into this legislation that will lead to abuse or misuse. Another recent example is the lambasting of the Irish women’s soccer team for singing Celtic Symphony. Under this legislation, not only could they be seen as glorifying terrorism, but so too could the person who put the graffiti on the wall in the first place.

In this legislation, public provocation charges can be brought where no actual terrorist offence has been committed, with those charged facing up to ten years imprisonment. These provisions are clearly being used to target freedom of speech, freedom of expression and political activism as opposed to actual terrorism. We cannot stand over that.

See this speech in context