Harassment legislation for Deputies
Deputy Howlin urges urgent enactment of legislation to tackle threats and harassment against public representatives, citing death threats and violent threats reported by Deputies. The Minister for Justice agrees the laws need updating, points to a public consultation on hate-incitement legislation, and says the issue must be tackled together.
In responding to Deputy Broughan on a most serious issue, the Taoiseach referred to the Harassment, Harmful Communications and Related Offences Bill 2017. The Bill was supposed to have been enacted last summer. I note the Department of Justice and Equality had brought a group of Bills to enactment last year but this was not one of them.
More than half of Deputies who responded to a recent survey carried out by RTÉ stated they had personal death threats made against them while 70% of them had threats of physical violence. Some female Deputies stated they had been threatened with rape. One has to have a certain thick skin to be involved in politics. However, most of us realise - one sees this happening in the UK – that the threshold is often overstepped. We need to protect against hate speech and viciousness online.
A contributor to our party conference last weekend, a Kenyan-born candidate, spoke about the overwhelming sexist and racist bullying she experienced online.
Comment on this
We need to enact this legislation. Can I have timeframe?
Comment on this
I agree with the points raised by Deputy Howlin. I am on the record on several occasions in this House, as well as outside, saying there is an urgent and important need to update our laws in this area, in particular the Prohibition of Incitement to Hatred Act which has been on the Statute Book for over 30 years. That is why there is currently a public consultation under way to ensure we have an appropriate level of data and we listen to the views of stakeholders and others. This is due to close in two weeks’ time.
The other legislation referred to by Deputy Howlin is his own Bill. I was very keen, on behalf of the Government, to ensure we could move efficiently and effectively on that. That is why we adopted the Bill. My office is in consultation with the office of Deputy Howlin with a view to ensuring we can have an appropriate set of amendments by the end of the year.
Comment on this
I recognise the urgency of this matter and I acknowledge the co-operation of Deputy Howlin and other Members. This is an issue we must tackle together if we are to ensure the climate is appropriate for people entering public life and dealing with what is an unacceptable trend, in particular in social media.