Fine Gael TD Neale Richmond has said that prospective Taoiseach Simon Harris will not abandon the ‘Hate Speech Bill’ despite calls for him to do so should he be selected for the office.
Speaking on RTÉ Radio 1 this morning Richmond said that the ‘hate speech bill’ is “ a very important and well intentioned piece of legislation.”
“It’s back with Helen McEntee, the Minister for Justice. There’s a number of amendments that have to be gone through. There’s a number of reflections. There’s a lot of listening to do.”
Richmond said that the bill was “not just about legislation” but about “the practicalities of high visibility policing, of making sure we provide those supports for An Garda Síochána and making sure that absolutely a focus under the legislation.”
Asked if the bill would be a priority for Harris he said, “I think we’ve seen a number of priorities laid out by Simon over the past weekend when it comes to the justice area, but equally in terms of backing business, in terms of building homes.” he said.
Richmond insisted that the program for government of which the bill is a part “isn’t changing.”
“The parties and government aren’t changing. “ he said adding that the parties that hold the Taoiseach’s office “and all the other ministries aren’t changing.”
Richmond said that the current government has a “very short period of time until the next general election, which will be next March to make sure we push our clear priorities and we in Fine Gael wants to take reset to look at our clear values, the ministries we hold how we can provide support, particularly for small businesses that have done so much in terms of improving workers rights, particularly in the area of law and order in terms of on the streets.”
Asked again to clarify if Fine Gael would consider conceding to requests from political opponents of the bill Richmond said again that the government would not be “deviating away from the programme for government.”
What we have said is we want to use this period of time as a reset, to look at the ministries Fine Gael holds to see what our priorities are, what we can achieve in terms of the incitement against hatred bill to give it its proper title.”
He said the bill “requires a lot of reflection” adding that there’s “ been an awful lot of amendments” to it.
Denying that the bill would be ‘put on the long finger’, Richmond said that it was currently in the exact same position as it was two weeks ago saying it required “an awful lot of work” from TDs and members of the Oireachtas.