COALITION AGAINST HATE CRIME

The Coalition Against Hate Crime, a group of 23 civil society organisations including SARI which represent communities impacted by hate crime, is calling on the Government to recommit to the Hate Crime Bill and ensure it is passed by the Oireachtas as a matter of urgency, in light of new statistics which show that recorded hate crime has increased for the second year in a row in Ireland. 

Responding to the publication today by An Garda Síochána of its annual hate crime and hate-related incident statistics, Chairperson of the Coalition and Senior Policy Officer with the Irish Council for Civil Liberties, Luna Lara Liboni, said: 

“The statistics published today by An Garda Síochána show a second year of increase in recorded hate crimes and incidents in Ireland. While it is positive that people are coming forward with their experiences, this is also an indicator of what those of us who work with, are part of and represent minoritised communities already know – hate crime and hostility towards our communities are a growing reality in Ireland. These numbers should serve as a wake-up call for all public representatives and political parties as to date, Ireland still has no hate crime legislation.”

The Criminal Justice (Incitement to Violence or Hatred and Hate Offences) Bill 2022 would introduce hate crime legislation for the first time in Ireland and update existing legislation on extreme hate speech. 

The Coalition Against Hate Crime has called for the introduction of hate crime legislation for many years. Research shows that, beyond affected communities and human rights organisations, the introduction of legislation is supported by Gardaí and legal professionals,

A recent study also shows that there is clear appreciation among the general public of the harms of hate crime, that hate crime is seen as a serious and growing problem and that there is a high level of public support for the protection of a broad range of characteristics under legislation.