On Wednesday, Garda Commissioner Drew Harris gave a stark warning about the rise of far-right extremism, which he categorised as a threat. He called it "a growing concern right across law enforcement and intelligence agencies across Europe" and stated that the Garda was concerned about right-wing social media activity, planned arson attacks targeting direct provision centres and the infiltration of community groups. The Garda Commissioner specifically mentioned the difficulty of far-right messages being shared on websites and social media. Yesterday, the Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission raised serious concerns about remarks made by election candidates and elected public representatives. The commission is calling for a code of conduct and sanctions to ensure that while political debate remains free and open, it also remains free of rancour, discrimination and talk that is demonstrably racist.

In the context of these two strong interventions by senior public officials, does the Government agree that we need to have legislation in advance of the next general election to ensure that hate speech by parties or candidates is outlawed and that the spread of far-right messaging on social media, often originating outside the State, is controlled and, indeed, eliminated?

My understanding is that the Minister for Justice and Equality, Deputy Flanagan, is reviewing the legislation in this area to ensure that it is watertight and that incitement to hatred, hate speech and spreading falsehoods, inaccuracies and lies that promulgate fear for political reasons can be responded to appropriately. The challenge we face in terms of social media platforms providing a platform for blatant inaccuracies, often advocated for by anonymous namers and accounts, is a major one. Free speech is not the same as providing a free platform to spread whatever one thinks will gain one political advantage or to bully or target someone. It is a major challenge for the House to respond appropriately to this and ensure that the kind of standards that we expect of broadcast and print media or the-----

And candidates.

And politicians.

And candidates. That is correct. When candidates say things that are wrong, they need to get pulled up on it.

One would think that the Government would pull them up on it.

If they are decent people, they will apologise and try to correct the inaccuracies. If they are not, then the public will have to make a choice.

Someone could show leadership.

This is a debate that the House and all parties in it need to have in a non-party political way to support new initiatives that the Government may introduce in the coming months.