Minister for Justice Helen McEntee has said she’s “not sure there is a definition” of what the term ‘far right’ means.
The Minister’s comments came during a hearing of the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Justice in response to a question asked by Senator Sharon Keogan.
“The definition of the far right..I mean, it’s, it’s obviously a political ideology or it’s a particular view that a person has,” said the minister adding: “I’m not sure there is a definition.”
Senator Sharon Keogan interjected saying that the supposed lack of definition for the term ‘far right’ echoed the lack of definition of the word ‘hate’ in the minister’s proposed Criminal Justice (Incitement to Violence or Hatred and Hate Offences) Bill 2022
“I think we need to define what it is,” said Keogan.
The minister continued saying, “So I think what we see from a lot of people who would claim to be far right, which is not a crime, for somebody to have a particular ideology, it’s where they act and maybe certain matters.
“We have seen people to be anti-government, anti-state, anti-immigration, anti-women’s rights, amongst other things – that would be my own particular view of those who claim to be far-right.”
The Minister also denied claims made in a Fine Gael social media post that she had fast tracked the attestation of 153 Garda recruits from Templemore in order to have more Gardaí on the streets before Christmas saying that although she did not have a personal hand in the decision she viewed it as “a positive thing”.
Justice Minister @HMcEntee has fast-tracked the attestation of trainee Garda in Templemore, meaning we will see more Gardaí on the beat before Christmas.
This is another way Fine Gael is building stronger, safer communities. pic.twitter.com/tRb3VA6MVF
— Fine Gael (@FineGael) November 29, 2023
“I think it’s a positive thing that the gardaí that were due to be attested in July [January] are being fast tracked,” she said.
“We obviously don’t want Gardaí coming from all over the country and being stationed in Dublin,” she said.
Senator Keogan said Gardaí stationed in commuter belt communities and villages were being called to Dublin and expressed concern about how this might effect those communities saying her own area had experienced a high number of burglaries in the last two weeks.
Minister said communities outside of Dublin would not be “stripped of their resources” but that a strong Garda presence was needed in the city in order for people to feel secure during the Christmas period.