Restriction on free speech

I am a 28-year-old warehouse worker in Dublin, originally from America.

As a gay man residing here, with my Irish partner, my attention has been focused on the events surrounding Panti’s (Rory O’Neill’s) statements on the Saturday Night Show and the subsequent monetary payout to affected parties by RTÉ. My concern has less to do with homosexuality, and the word homophobia, as much as it does with the wider implication of constricting free speech.

Defamation laws have created a dangerous environment for freedom of speech in Ireland. The rich and well-connected members of society are the ones that will be capable of exploiting these laws. Not just homosexuals, but all democracy-loving people in Ireland, should be troubled by the fact that RTÉ was coerced into censoring Panti’s comments and then paid a huge sum to those instigating the censorship. This is not a road Ireland wants to go down. There are so many places in the world where people do not enjoy freedom of speech; people who cannot express themselves for fear of government retaliation. Thankfully Ireland is not one of those places, but censoring Panti, is a move in the direction towards oppression. Rory O’Neill had every right to name individuals on the national broadcaster, who in his opinion exhibit homophobic behaviour. More importantly every person living in Ireland, deserves the right to speak their mind, on any topic, without fear of retaliation. That is the dressing of a fair and free society.