Aontú calls for the Hate Speech Bill to be Binned

Aontú Leader and Midlands, North West candidate Peadar Tóibín TD has called on the government to bin the Hate Speech Bill. He stated:

“The Hate Speech Bill is another example of the chasm that exists between the Political/NGO bubble and the people of Ireland. People just want the Minister for Justice to do her job, employ more Gardaí on decent terms and conditions and make our streets safer. Yet for the last two years Helen McEntee has been completely distracted by a bill is not wanted by the people”.

“The recent referendums highlighted just how detached the government is. And this Bill is very similar to the referendums. At the heart of the problem is definition free phrases that could one day jail you for simply speaking your mind respectfully.

There is no definition of hate and there is no definition of gender. If the government seeks to criminalise a citizen, they have a moral responsibility to clearly set out the legal parameters. On these definitions the government is again asking us to take their word for what these words will mean”.

“The referendum has shown that people do not trust government. The referendums have shown the government openly misled the people as to the advice the received on the meaning of key phrases from the Attorney General. A liberal democracy is built upon allowing ideas to compete with each other, so we can test, challenge and measure their value. Its only through this free and respectful competition of ideas that we can empirically choose the best solutions for the problems society face”.

“In the Hate Speech Bill, the government is seeking to do is to shut down free expression and debate. The government are looking to introduce a censorship bill. They seek to criminalise people and jail people for articulating a different view on certain issues. It is incredible to see SF flip flop on the issue in recent days. Many people my generation joined SF because of the censorship of Section 31. Yet SF not only voted for this censorship Bill but sought to make it more extreme.

Aontú debated and voted against this Bill in the Dáil. The Dáil is already stocked high enough with TDs who simply go whichever way the wind is blowing, it does not need anymore.

The Irish political system is radically broken

In Ireland the vast majority of elected representatives put a finger in the air to check which way the political wind is blowing. They have one eye on their leaders – seeking brownie points – and another eye keeping their seat safe. If elected reps shut up and do as they’re told, they are promoted; if they stand up for what they believe in, they are demoted. No wonder we have the political class we have. No wonder one point one billion euro is being buried in a hole under the National Children’s Hospital and that Stormont is in stalemate.

Throughout Ireland, many people are now afraid to say what they feel, many are afraid to respectfully engage on a range of different topics. Many feel there is a new censorship and a new political correctness in Ireland, that opposition to the establishment is being deleted.

Respectful opposition is not the enemy. Respectful opposition is a critical element of a functional democracy. Aontú will have the backbone to stand up, without fear, for you.