15. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration if he has raised the implications of the proposed EU legislation on hate speech at an EU level; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37589/25]

Sentiment score: -0.02

Is it the Minister's intention to reintroduce the hate speech legislation brought forward by his predecessor in the previous Dáil that was a such dramatic failure?

Sentiment score: -0.79

I welcome the Minister's response and the sea change in the Government's approach to the hate speech legislation. His predecessor, Deputy McEntee, was a big proponent and driver of this hate speech legislation, so I commend the Minister, Deputy O'Callaghan, on what he is doing. This House should always protect freedom of speech. We saw in Germany recently that pro-Palestinian protesters were treated in the harshest way possible. In this country, people's views of and sympathies towards the Palestinian people are very different. In relation to the movements from the European Union, is the message from this Government that it is in compliance and will not be co-operating with any diktat in relation to hate speech legislation?

Sentiment score: -0.14

We abhor hate and I firmly believe that we should all speak respectfully. However, the previous Government set out essentially to define what hate would be. That is obviously a dangerous road to go down. There is movement throughout the European Union to push hate speech laws. Is the Minister saying today that is not going to happen and we are in compliance and we are going to say "No" to Europe on this matter?

Sentiment score: -0.44