Sharon Keogan (Independent) | Oireachtas source

The list includes microgender, midasgender, miegender, migragender, mimogender, moltgender, momentigender, monegencer, mooncangender, morphogender,mossgender, motigender, mountainogender, movender, multigender, mundagender, mungender, muragender, muscisgender, mutaegender, mythogender, napgender, narritogender, nebulagender, nefasgender, negogender, neligender, nemergender, neptunegender, nervigender, netergender, nexgender, nicogender, nightgender, nimbusgender, nocgender, nomigender, non-binary, non-genegender, non-gegender, novagender, nullgender, numerigender, nuxgender, nyctogender, oasgender, obliquesgender, obnuvigender, oculogender, odorgender, offgender, omegagender, ominogender, omnisgender, omniverigender, onimogender, onirigender, ontogender, oobgender, opacigender, opalusgender, opengender, oppigender, opulengender, opusgender, orbisgender, orchegender, orchigender, oreogender, orgagender, oscilligender, osmagender, overcastgender, ovogender, oxgender, oxtongender, ozgender, pacigender, pagender, paleogender, pampaflux, pampogender, panarcticgender, pandanagender, pangegender, pantasexgender, paragender, parallogender, parasolgender, parchgender, particgender, pastgender, patagender, pegasgender, peligender, perennialgender, perigender, perimmonogender, permagender, perrigender, persecutogender, persephonogender, petrolgender, phantasmgender, phlegmagender, photogender, phototropogender, phtorogender, pianogender, pictgender, pietagender, pigeongender, pinkgender, piogender, piscigender, plasmagender, plathgender, platogender, pleasgender, ploidgender, plutogender, poetrigender, polargender, polarisgender, posifluxgender, positivogender, possgender, potegender, prairiegender, precarigender, precipigender, primgender, prismagender, privagender, probabiligender, prodigender, prodromgender, profectgender, progenigender, proliflux, propagender, prospicgender, protogender, purgogender, pyrogender, quartzgender, quasigender, questgender, quietgender, quindrigender, quinxgender, radgender, radiantgender, rainflux, rainogender, raptorgender, ravengender, raygender, rayongender, readygender, realmgender, recurrigender, reflectogender, regender, regigender, reinigender, relicgender, religender, renitentgender, repentagender, respigender, restitugender, retrogender, revigender, revivagender, rexgender, rhythmgender, rimegender, riptidegender, rishigender, rivenergender, rivergender, roangender, robotgender, rocciagender, rockygender, rogender, romanticgender, rosagender, rosegender, rotundgender, rubygender, runegender, rustgender, rushgender, sablegender, sacralgender, safegender, sagittgender, sagittariusgender, salvogender, sammagender, sandalwoodgender, sandgender, sangagender, sanctigender, sapflux, sapgender, sapphgender, saturagender, scenogender, scentergender, scutgender, seagender, secludogender, sedatagender, selfigender, sensorgender, sentiogender, sepiagender, sequiogender, serenogender, shapgender, shardgender, shattergender, shifgender, shiftfluid, shiftgender, shimmergender, shipgender, shoalrogender, shoegender, shygender, siamgender, sibligender, sickgender, sidegender, sigmagender, silangender, silicogender, silkgender, simulagender, singender, singularity gender, sinistergender, sirengender, sixgender, skategender, skeingender, skygender, skylargender, sleepgender, slidegender, sloggender, slushgender, smarogender, smilegender, smoggender, smokegender, snowgender, softgender, solaragender, solemgender, solidgender, solilogender, solivagender, solugender, somnigender, sonargender, sonicgender, soragender, soupgender, soundgender, speedgender, spheregender, spicgender, spillagender, spiritogender, splashgender, splendorgender, spookgender, spraygender, springgender, spritegender, spritzgender, spurgender, squallgender, squawkgender, squeegender, stadiogender, stagegender, stalactigender, stalagmitgender, starlightgender, stargender, staticgender, stellargender, stelligender, sterngender, stillgender, stormgender, stovagender, stratagender, streamgender, streetgender, strigender, strobeogender, struggender, subflu, subgender, subjugender, subrigender, subterrangender, successogender, sungender, sunrisegender, sunsetgender, supergender, superflux, supinegender, supperogender, surfigender, surprisgender, surreogender, swamgender, sweltergender, switchgender, swordgender, sybylgender, synergigender, synodgender, syrengender, systegender, tabogender, tadpolegender, tailorgender, tantalumgender, tartargender, tasselgender, techfluid, techgender, tempestgender, temporalflux, temporalgender, tenebrogender, tensiongender, tentgender, terggender, terragender, tesseragender, testigender, texturegender, thalassogender, thawgender, themoflux, themogender, thistlegender, thorogender, thoughtgender, threadgender, thrilligender, thrumgender, thunderogender, tidalgender, tidegender, tierogender, tigender, tigerogender, tiltgender, timegender, tornadogender, touchgender, towergender, tracegender, trafectgender, transgender, transgenderqueer, transientgender, transitgender, trianglegender, tricousgender, tridensgender, triformgender, trilixgender, troughgender, troubadorgender, trowgender, trumpetgender, truxgender, tsunamigender, turbogender, turntablegender, tutelgender, twingender, twirlgender,twittergender, twilightgender, twinkleflux, twinklegender, typgender, typogender, tyrogender, ultragender, umbragender, umbramalgender, unabigender, unarrowgender, unbinary, unblurrgender, unclogender, underflux, underogender, unfogender, uniformgender, unigonogender, uniquefluid, uniquender, unknogender, unogender, unsegender, unsungender, unumgender, updraftgender, upliftgender, upperogender, uranogender, urgogender, urnanogender, urnogender, ursaegender, usherogender, utapendragender, utensigender, utopiangender, vacatgender, vaggender, vagabondgender, vaguegender, valencygender, valleygender, valorgender, vangender, variegender, veilgender, velocitygender, veldgender, vellumgender, velvetgender, vendergender, vengeogender, venusgender, verbflu, verbgender, versatogender, vespgender, vibragender, victorygender, viergegender, viletendergender, villagender, vinegender, violaflux, violagender, virtuegender, visiongender, vitagender, vitalgender, voidgender, volatogender, voltigender, voyagegender, vulcangender, wailgender, wargender, watergender, wavegender, waxgender, weathergender, webgender, wedgender, welcomegender, whispergender, whistgender, wightgender, willowgender, windgender, windowgender, windyflux, wintegender, wintergender, withergender, wobblegender, woodgender, woolgender, workgender, wovengender, wrathgender, wrenogender, wringergender, xagender, xemeogender, xenogender, xerographgender, xestergender, xilogender, xylogender, yarnogender, yawnogender, yearninggender, yellowgender, yeldgender, yoigender, younggender, youthgender, ytterbigender, zephyrogender, zeroesgender, zigzaggender, zodigender, zoegender, zonogender, zoomgender, zygender, and zyrenogender. It is worth noting that if the Minister were to accept our amendments today, she might avoid the possibility of a constitutional referendum down the road.

Amendment No. 10 proposes a specific definition of "hate" to be inserted into the Bill, framing it as a malicious attempt to victimise an individual or group based on their protected characteristics. This victimisation must be likely to entice another person to commit an act of discrimination or violence. The current draft of the Bill lacks such a definition, which creates significant concerns regarding legal certainty and clarity in its enforcement. As noted in the Minister, Deputy McEntee’s statement, it is implied we all know what hate is. Without a concrete and legal definition of hate in this Bill, however, there is a risk that both law enforcement and the courts will struggle to apply the legislation consistently. This could lead to uncertainty and arbitrary enforcement where accusations of hate are made based on subjective interpretations or social context rather than clearly defined legal standards. The proposed definition ensures a threshold is established for what constitutes hate by specifying that hate must involve malicious intent to target individuals or groups based on their protected characteristics. This definition sets standards of what type of behaviour or speech qualifies as hate and requires a clear connection between the hateful act and its capacity to entice discrimination or violence. This would ensure only actions or expressions with real-world harmful consequences would be subject to legal consequences, protecting free expression while addressing genuine harm.

Globally, incitement laws must balance freedom of speech with the need to prevent violence and discrimination. Several international legal frameworks and instruments have addressed the threshold for incitement. The European Court of Human Rights has emphasised that speech restrictions must be narrowly defined and only enforced where there is a clear intention to incite violence or hatred that leads to discrimination. In cases where speech merely offends or shocks, it is protected under free expression rights.

The United Nations Rabat Plan of Action outlines a high threshold for what constitutes incitement, requiring that the speech in question be directed at the audience, have intent to incite and be likely to lead to imminent harm, such as discrimination or violence. This approach seeks to distinguish between lawful speech, even if provocative, and unlawful incitement. By providing a definition of hate, this amendment aligns with these international principles, ensuring the law only targets behaviour or speech that is genuinely harmful.

Without a specific definition, there is a risk of wrongful convictions under this Bill. Speech that is critical, controversial or uncomfortable could be wrongly perceived as hateful, even when it does not meet the criteria of inciting discrimination or violence. A vague or overly broad understanding of hate could lead to individuals being wrongly prosecuted for expressing views that, while unpopular, do not constitute hate speech under international norms. The proposed amendment protects against this by limiting hate to malicious acts aimed at incitement, meaning opinions, discussions, or debates that do not meet this threshold do not fall under its purview.

In societies with robust free speech protections, such as Canada or Germany, courts have consistently ruled that incitement laws must differentiate between offensive or harmful speech and speech that directly leads to acts of violence or discrimination. This ensures minority views, satire or unpopular opinions are not stifled.

The proposed amendment provides much clarity to the Bill by defining hate as a malicious act aimed at inciting others to discriminate or inciting violence based on a person’s protected characteristic. This definition establishes a clear threshold for legal action, aligning with international standards and ensuring the Bill targets genuine harm while safeguarding free expression. The lack of a definition in the current Bill leaves the door open to misinterpretation and inconsistent application, which could lead to wrongful convictions and chilled public discourse. The amendment strengthens the Bill by providing legal certainty and ensuring incitement is clearly defined.

I come to amendment No. 11. I am nearly finished, Members will be delighted to know.