Victor Boyhan (Independent) | Oireachtas source

I will not spend my time talking about the Bill; I will repeat what I said this morning, namely, that to give this 90 minutes was nothing short of a disgrace. I look forward to talking about it again another day. I did make the case, and clearly there was a very constructive debate which I watched from the television screens, but to set aside 90 minutes to deal with hate crime and hate speech is very disappointing. It is disappointing that Members of this House could not make this a priority. We had people come in and make statements, whereas we want to walk our talk and want to see action on it. I am more interested in hearing whether we can extend the debate. I know that the Deputy Leader of the House is here today, but next week I would like a second discussion and debate on this issue, because it is too serious and too important an issue. I will leave the House with one message. I met a Pakistani man last summer when I was coming from a park in Dundrum. He had been beaten to lard by three teenagers because of hate and hate crimes. He did not have his own immigration status regularised and he was told that if he went to the Garda, he would be put out of this country. He was a big, grown man who could have beaten the lard out of the three of them, but he was in fear, and he did not want to get involved. I will wrap up at this point. It is too serious-----