Eileen Flynn (Independent) | Oireachtas source

I do not know what rock Senator Mullen has been living under for the past five years because the Coalition Against Hate Crime Ireland has worked with the Minister, other Senators, TDs, and the Department to have robust hate crime legislation. In my early days, I remember speaking with Members of the Oireachtas about this piece of legislation. I also remember that Senator O'Loughlin brought in a piece of legislation. We want a piece of hate crime legislation that is fit for purpose. That is what Senator Mullen has said himself as well.

I did not agree with scrapping the hate speech part of the Bill. I put my hands up to that. I have tabled amendments on it. I have to say: a good start is half the battle. I am absolutely delighted for people from minority groups to feel heard and seen within Irish society. That is thanks the Minister and to the coalition beside me. I have worked very closely with Dr. Seamus Taylor in the last five years. He also worked on hate crime in England. We have got the best people around us. I know that from the Coalition Against Hate Crime Ireland and the amount of work it has done in the past five years, but also for decades.

From 1989 to 2017 there were only five prosecutions for hate crime. It is not that we are going to be locking people up and throwing away the key or anything of the sort. It is about minority groups. It is not acceptable that my child, or children within my community, can be targeted because they are members of the Traveller community. That is not in the Bill. I do not know where Senator Mullen got that from, and why he is even speaking about children. Unfortunately, if you are born as a member of the Traveller community, a person of colour or born into another family, you are automatically seen as different within Irish society. Likewise, if you are a child with a disability, you are automatically seen as different within Irish society.

Instead of looking at people being all the same within the justice system, we have to look at differences within all of our systems. We must celebrate differences. I do not pretend to be the same as anybody here in these Houses. I am unique. I am okay with being unique. I am the first ever member of the Traveller community in these Houses. I bring pride and dignity to that. I am okay with being different. Do not insult me for my identity when I walk down the street. Do not insult a person walking down the street or burn a person's home because of the colour of their skin, their identity, sexuality or gender.It would be great for all minority groups in the country if we were to pass this legislation. I know at least two Senators will talk and talk and feed into a minority view. It is a smaller minority than my community. There are 40,000 Travellers in Ireland and we would not even fill up Croke Park; we would only need a little section of it. The support Senator Mullen has is an extremely small community. It is a bit loud but we can all be a wee bit loud, if you want.

I credit the Minister from the bottom of my heart on behalf of all minority groups in the country and people who are different, be they trans or a person with a disability. This legislation is not ideal. I get that. I am disappointed at the scrapping of the hate speech element.

Our amendments address the report of how the process is going. The amendments from the Civil Engagement Group come not from me or Senator Higgins; they come from the coalition, the people from minority groups who are impacted most.

I look forward to discussing our amendments and urge Senators to be mindful. As the Minister said in the early days of this discussion, people still have the right to be offensive. It is unfortunate we have public representatives who still want to be offensive and to insult people who are othered in Irish society. I thank the Minister and welcome the coalition here again today. Senators should be mindful the Gallery is full of supporters of this legislation. We have two Members in the House this evening who are not supporting it. That is fine. They are entitled to freedom of speech and expression and all that jazz, but they should be mindful that people in the Gallery support the legislation.