Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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599. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the extent to which hate speeches, hate crime and racism continue to be addressed in all areas throughout the country without exception; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [16719/22]

Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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The Deputy will be aware that the Government is fully committed to the fight against racism, prejudice and bigotry, and strongly condemns the actions of those who abuse and attack others because of their own prejudices against a person’s religion, ethnic origins, sexual orientation or any other part of their identity as a human being. Ireland is a diverse and tolerant country, and such behaviour is not acceptable.

Goal 1of Justice Plan is focused on tackling crime, enhancing national security and transforming policing.

Under Justice Plan 2021 I committed to publishing the General Scheme for a new Hate Crime Bill. On the 16 April 2021 I published the General Scheme of the Criminal Justice (Hate Crime) Bill 2021, the text of which can be accessed on my Department's website. Following its publication, the General Scheme was referred to the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice for pre-legislative scrutiny, which took place on 17 November 2021.

I recently published Justice Plan 2022 and it commits to advancing this work and to publishing the Hate Crime Bill in quarter 2 of this year.

The Bill will create new, aggravated forms of certain existing criminal offences, where those offences are motivated by prejudice against a protected characteristic. The protected characteristics set out in the General Scheme are race; colour; nationality; religion, ethnic or national origin; sexual orientation; gender; or disability.

The aggravated offences will generally carry an enhanced penalty, compared to the ordinary offence, and the record of any conviction for such an offence would clearly state that the offence was a hate crime.

I intend to publish the new Hate Crime Bill in the summer.

In addition to my work on this legislation, my colleague, the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth is taking forward the Government commitment to publish a National Action Plan against Racism.

To be of assistance to the Deputy, I have reached out to An Garda Síochána to request information they may have on incidences of hate motivated offences and I will follow up directly with the Deputy when any relevant information is received.