Taoiseach Micheál Martin has said that new hate speech legislation is “not on the immediate agenda,” despite Garda figures showing a rise in hate crimes last year.
Speaking to reporters outside Government Buildings on Tuesday, the Fianna Fáil leader was asked if he found the figures “concerning” and whether the increase was driven by “racist rhetoric.” He said the trend was “very concerning” and referenced existing legislation targeting hate crime.
“It is very concerning,” Martin said.
“Hate crime in and of itself is very concerning, and there are very significant penalties for that which were passed through the Oireachtas last year. And it is very concerning, we’ll keep a very close eye on that.”
Pressed further on whether hate speech laws would come back on the agenda, he pointed to recent legislative changes and said the focus should be on implementation rather than new laws.
“We’ve already passed legislation in respect of hate crime, in terms of the sentencing and the penalties that are available to be meted out to anybody found guilty of any crime in relation to a hate crime,” he said.
“In terms of hate speech, look: that’s not on the immediate agenda. We already have legislation on the statute books in respect of hate crime, and quite a significant degree of legislation there. And I think the issue of enforcement and implementation will be there.”
The Taoiseach’s remarks follow the publication of Garda figures showing 676 hate crimes and hate-related incidents in 2024, a 4% rise from 651 the previous year. According to An Garda Síochána, 592 of these were hate crimes, with 84 classified as hate-related non-crime incidents. “Anti-race” was the most cited motive, accounting for 39% of all recorded incidents, while the “anti-sexual orientation” category declined from 109 incidents in 2023 to 70 last year.
The figures were referenced by Chief Superintendent Padraic Jones, who said that hate crimes continue to be under-reported. A Garda spokesperson said this view was based on “lived experience” and perspectives from “academia, NGO and representative groups.”
The Government had originally planned to update Ireland’s 1989 Prohibition of Incitement to Hatred Act as part of a broader hate crime and hate speech bill. However, amid controversy surrounding potential impacts on free expression, the hate speech section was removed, and only hate crime provisions were passed into law in 2024.
Despite this, the issue of hate speech legislation has remained politically contentious. As reported by the Irish Independent in September 2024, then-Tánaiste Micheál Martin said the matter was not entirely closed.
“I would not rule out into the future keeping this under review,” he said.
Speaking at the time from New York, Martin described the decision to remove the hate speech element as a “compromise” and said a new Garda approach may be needed to deal with threats to politicians.
Justice Minister Helen McEntee also expressed disappointment last October that hate speech laws had not passed. As reported by Gript, she told the Seanad that the 1989 legislation was outdated.
“I genuinely regret that this is where we are at now,” she said.
“The next Dáil and the next Seanad, whenever they come into being, will need to find a way forward because the 1989 Act needs to be updated.”
“I fundamentally believe we need to update our 1989 Act,” she said.
“I regret we are not doing it here and now, but I also fundamentally believe we need to have hate crime laws in place. We do not have them at the moment. We are the only country in Europe, and indeed probably the western world, that does not have hate crime legislation.”
Prior to the 2024 General Election, Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael offered conflicting positions on the issue. According to WhichCandidate.ie, a University of Limerick platform for comparing candidates’ views, Fianna Fáil leader Micheál Martin said he did not support new hate speech laws, citing the newly enacted hate crime provisions as sufficient.
“This has been addressed by the Criminal Justice (Hate Offences) Bill which provides for higher sentences for certain crimes, where hatred is the proven motivation or is demonstrated,” Martin wrote.
By contrast, Fine Gael leader Simon Harris answered “Agree” to the same question and said that rights must be balanced.
“Freedoms of expression and of belief are important, but so too is the ability to live without fear of oppression and intolerance on the basis of one’s appearance, ethnicity, sexual orientation, gender, etc.,” he said.
“Government must strive to balance these rights.”