Hate crime legislation to be brought to Cabinet in April

Minister for Justice Helen McEntee outside Government Buildings as she published the findings of the hate crime public consultation, which was carried out by the Department of Justice. Picture: Sam Boal/RollingNews.ie

Draft legislation to criminalise hate crime and hate speech will be brought to the Cabinet next April, according to Minister for Justice Helen McEntee.

The minister was speaking at the launch of a
report on hate crime in which many of those who participated spoke of experiencing bigotry, hate speech and hate crimes on public transport, in public places, online, in education, in the health and policing services and in political speech.
Public consultation took place from last November until January of this year and the report on the findings, including recommendations for the new legislation, was published on Thursday.