Hate crime legislation 'with teeth' to be in place by end of the year

Minister for Justice Helen McEntee told Newstalk that the new legislation is not about infringing on free speech. Picture: Sasko Lazarov/Photocallireland

New hate crime legislation "with teeth" will be in place by the end of the year, the Justice Minister says.

Helen McEntee is aiming to publish the Incitement to Hatred and Hate Crime Bill in September, saying that it will make it easier to secure convictions for crimes where hatred of a protected category such as race, colour, nationality, religion, ethnic or national origin, sexual orientation, gender (including gender expression and identity), and disability was a factor.