Before we get in to the rights and wrongs of this, it’s worth looking at what the state’s equality commission believes is a racist comment: “It points to recent examples which have caused it concern, including ….. Galway West TD Noel Grealish’s description of refugees from Africa as “economic migrants” seeking to “sponge off the system here in […]
On Thursday 24 October, the Government formally signalled its intention to introduce draconian hate speech legislation in Ireland. As was the case with many people, I felt a sudden alarm that our fundamental inalienable human right to articulate opinions and ideas was going to be removed, so I took to Twitter to ask people if […]
Is Charlie Flanagan using ‘hate speech’ to clamp down on people’s right to criticise government policy on immigration, sex-education and more? #gript
Charlie Flanagan, the Minister for Justice, is doing a terrible job of balancing the needs of migrants and asylum seekers with the concerns of local communities. The sheer arrogance shown by his Department is extraordinary. They’ve refused to consult with locals before making high-handed announcements about direct provision centres opening in jig time, with everyone […]
It’s remarkable, isn’t it, as a very smart tweeter observed in response to this news, that just a few years ago the great and the good were applauding the power of twitter to facilitate political change on a scale previously unheard of. The Arab spring? Powered almost completely by social media. Barack Obama? The first […]
On Thursday 24th October 2019, the Government launched a public consultation (the “Consultation”) on hate speech laws in Ireland. As part of this Consultation the Government confirmed their intention to consult with members of the public, academics and groups who have experienced hate speech either “personally or seen, read or heard” what they consider to […]
On 9 October 2019, Garda Commissioner Drew Harris announced the introduction of a new working definition for hate crime in Ireland. He stated that this new definition was partly motivated by a concern that hate crime was under reported in Ireland. There are a number of points that are worth noting regarding hate crime in […]
You won’t see much criticism of this proposal from Sinn Fein in the rest of the Irish media, but it’s the height of hypocrisy, not to mention a very bad idea: “A NEW BILL to prevent broadcasters from banning journalists from appearing on their airwaves because of their employer will be brought forward in Dáil […]
Isn’t it ironic that those who would speak so passionately against fascists appear to think it’s acceptable to engage in violence to suppress views they disagree with? When I first saw the footage of National Party Leader, Justin Barrett, dripping with vanilla milkshake as he held a banner that read “Ireland belongs to the Irish”, […]
MUST SEE: John McGuirk slams the Irish media and offers an alternative to challenge our elites. “Nobody dares open their mouth in this country for fear of upsetting the elite. Is that ok?” #gript
On Saturday, 17 August last, I came across a Tweet from an Owen James in the UK which referred to a “blatant premeditated attack” by far-right activists, in which Mr. James alleged he was seriously assaulted. I do not know Mr. James so I cannot comment on whether this claim is true or not. However, this Tweet was shared […]
The new Compass series of discussion events is launching in Buswell’s Hotel on September 17th. Compass is a programme of events aimed at young adults between the ages of 18-35. Panel-based discussion events on a wide range of topical issues in Irish society – including the role of the State, the importance of feminism and […]