Ken O'Flynn (Cork North-Central, Independent Ireland Party)

Is the Minister aware that the European Commission has sent a request to the State on this to ask us to tighten the laws? Is the Department of Finance prepared to pay the fines if we do not change the laws? There are proceedings in that regard that have been cited by the European Union.

I draw the Minister's attention to the European Court of Human Rights verdict in the Handyside v. the United Kingdom case in 1976, when it was found that freedom of expression includes speech that offends, shocks and disturbs. That was accepted by the court. I also bring the Minister's attention to Article 40.6.1° of Bunreacht na hÉireann, which outlines the right to expression. Will the Minister confirm that there will be no other influence from the European Union to bring in more hate speech legislation? There is a genuine concern about people's right to talk and their right to stand out. Many people in this country have a view that conflicts with many European countries when it comes to Palestine and Israel. Will all those people be included under a hate speech law?

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