A new hate speech bill is being pushed through the Irish parliament despite an initial public consultation revealing an overwhelming number of Irish citizens oppose the controversial reforms to free speech.
Passed through the Dáil, the country’s lower parliamentary chamber last month, the Criminal Justice (Incitement to Violence or Hatred and Hate Offences) Bill 2022 was roundly endorsed across the political spectrum. Parties including Sinn Fein, Labour, the Green Party, Fianna Fáil, and Irish leader Leo Varadkar’s Fine Gael all backed the bill, as it received 110 votes in favor to just 14 against.
However, as is often the case, the popular legislation among politicians is less admired by the electorate and has been widely criticized by huge swathes of the Irish public and free speech advocates.
The bill has also received international condemnation with high-profile opponents including Elon Musk; Donald Trump Jr.; and Canadian scholar Jordan Peterson, a former Harvard University professor.
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