New legislation will see increased prison sentences for hateful crimes from today 

Minister for Justice Helen McEntee said 'research shows that victims of crime motivated by hate suffer significantly more distress as a result than victims of other types of crimes; with more adverse mental health and physical health outcomes.' Picture: Sam Boal/Collin Photos

The contentious new hate crime legislation comes into force today and will see increased prison sentences for crimes that have been proven to be motivated by hatred.

The legislation was subject to much debate and scrutiny and led to the hate speech element being dropped although Justice Minister Helen McEntee said she wanted to see this progressed at a later stage.

Signing the commencement order for the Act, Ms McEntee said it sends a clear message to those who target victims because of a particular identity characteristic.

She said the legislation was developed following a comprehensive public consultation process and engagement with people who have lived experience of hate crime adding that the laws are "widely supported by the public".

"Research shows that victims of crime motivated by hate suffer significantly more distress as a result than victims of other types of crimes; with more adverse mental health and physical health outcomes," Ms McEntee said.

Ireland had faced criticism from the Council of Europe for being one of the few remaining EU countries not to have specific hate crime offences set out in law.

Despite no laws being in place, An Garda Síochána has recorded certain crimes as hate crimes with the data showing that hate crimes increased by 7.5% in 2023 and by 29% a year earlier.

The legislation will protect those targeted due to their race, colour, nationality, religion, disability, gender, sexual orientation, ethnic origin, among other characteristics.

It creates new, aggravated forms of certain existing offences and these will attract higher prison sentences. Where hatred is not proven, a person can still be charged with a non-hate aggravated crime.