Government 'needs to legislate for hate crimes'

The Government is being called on to legislate for hate crimes.

Crimes, including assault, sexual offences and theft motivated by racism or homophobia, are not recorded as such in Ireland.

While research by a group from University of Limerick has found that under-reporting of such crimes is a huge problem.

The Irish Council for Civil Liberties has published proposed legislation that would see people prosecuted for hate crimes.

At our launch of #hatecrime research today @Blackhall99 @jschweppe @AHaynesTweets @AodhanORiordain @HHRGatUL pic.twitter.com/3Q3qm6kW6a

— Irish Council for Civil Liberties 🏳️‍🌈 (@ICCLtweet) July 13, 2015

"What we're proposing here today is that our existing legal framework be adapted to recognise a hate motivation as being an aggravating factor," said ICCL executive director Mark Kelly.

"So the legislation we're proposing actually takes the existing offences of, for example, murder or serious assault, and it adds to those offences an additional element to reflect the fact that the crime has been motivated by hate."

UPDATE: Equality Minister Aodhán Ó Ríordáin said that he will be engaging with minority groups on the issue.

“The group here is hoping to have a meeting with the Justice Committee in early September I’m hoping to arrange a meeting with the minister for justice in early September as well and we can take it from there,” he said, speaking at the ICCL launch.

“But if you look at the issue at hand and how vulnerable the groups are, we really are in a new area in Ireland. We’re trying to create a much more inclusive and understanding society, then this is an area that would get widespread support from across the political system and also in the parliament too.”