Government hate speech bill: ‘Nonsensical word salad’ or ‘landmark’ legislation?

The Government hate speech bill, which was debated in the Seanad this week, has been variously described as “landmark legislation”, “flawed”, “ambiguous,” “an attack on freedom of expression,” and “nonsensical word salad”.

Civic society groups have long called for a law in this area, but concerns about the current bill span traditional party divides with government colleagues pressing the Minister for Justice to introduce extensive changes before they will support it.