Rónán Mullen: Hate speech legislation threatens our right to say what we think

There is a definite move in establishment circles to curtail what people say on controversial issues, not just on social media but out in the street, and we need to be vigilant

Demonstrators against gender affirmation treatments and surgeries on minors protest outside Boston Children's Hospital, Massachusetts, last September. Picture: Joseph Prezioso/ AFP

A Canadian activist called ‘Billboard Chris’ recently got into a spat with a member of An Garda Síochána in Dublin. The campaigner, Chris Elston, travels the world with a billboard saying “Children cannot consent to puberty blockers. Stop the child abuse.”

 This was enough to get him complained about after he walked near the Disney shop in Grafton St. A Garda soon appeared. His lengthy exchange with Mr Elston became a big hit on Twitter, getting over a million hits.