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THE GOVERNMENT will not be opposing the Fianna Fáil Bill aimed at tackling hate crime.
The Dáil will this evening debate the Bill which seeks to ensure that the option is open to the gardai and the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) to pursue a hate crime conviction.
The Criminal Justice (Aggravation by Prejudice) Bill 2016 aims to make offences committed with prejudice relating to the race, colour or ethnic origin, a disability, sexual orientation or transgender identity to be illegal.
Speaking in the Dáil this evening, Tanaiste and Justice Minister Frances Fitzgerald said while she had some difficulty with the “vagueness of certain terms in the Bill” she would not be opposing it.
Hate crime legislation is already in existence in Northern Ireland, England and Wales.
“This Bill essentially seeks to tackle hate crimes in an effective and robust manner. Under this Bill, if someone is convicted of an offence that is aggravated by prejudice or hatred, then this must be taken into account when sentencing,” said Kildare South TD Fiona O’Loughlin.
‘Out of step’
“Ireland is out of step in not having specific hate crime laws. I firmly believe that such legislation is needed and that there is an onus on us to make it clear that such hatred will not be tolerated in our society,” she added.
Victims continue to pay for these crimes due to inadequate legislation, O’Loughlin told the Dáil this evening.
“They are forced to accept their identity was targeted,” she said.
Cork-South West TD Margaret Murphy O’Mahony said the Bill will bring Ireland’s legislation up to date and not only make hate crime based on disability an offence, but will also improve the reporting and recording of hate crime, which she said is generally under reported.
The deputies said they are happy to discuss amendments should the Bill make it to Committee stage.
A number of TDs such as Sinn Fein’s Jonathan O’Brien and AAA-PBP Brid Smith opposed the Bill from proceeding. The Bill does not mention the Travelling community, which is one of the reasons stated for opposing it.
Forced marriages
Today, the Tanaiste Frances Fitzgerald got Cabinet approval to make forced marriage a crime.
TheJournal.ie understands Fitzgerald sought approval today to include the new measure in the draft of the Domestic Violence Bill.
Currently, forced marriages are not currently crimes. Under this new measure it will now be a criminal offence.
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I see quite a lot of bumblebees on my tomatoes. No drop in activity or numbers.
@Pat Patovic: nothing more scientifically sound than antidotal evidence.
@DaisyMay: it was the antidotal that saved her.
@Pat Patovic: agree I never had as many in my garden
@DaisyMay: Yeah right. Everything Journal ever published or everything you read on the internet is the holy grail of truth.
I just offered my own experience and you can hardly dispute it as I do not recall seeing you in my garden ever.
It’s really strange because I thought it was a bumper year for bees, have seen loads of them this year, a real improvement on the last few summers.
@edelno5 .: Dead right, It’s years since I’ve seen so many!
@edelno5 .: Maybe we see them more as they are busy in a struggle to survive. I’ve seen lots more than normal too. I was watching a really tiny bumble bee the other day. I’ve never seen one that small.
So they will be fine if we don’t get the same weather next year. Well, I guess that would fall under the whole climate change thing. Green Ireland now!
The theory of “Redundancy Hypothesis could relate to our politicians too. A diversity of species can help it become more resilient, because it isn’t overly reliant on a single species. A change is as good as a rest. The bees, TDs and Michael D take note.
This reads like a prediction rather than the result of any formal survey which isn’t cited. I have seen a multitude of both bumblebees and solitary bees this summer throughout the country. It’s their natural habitat which is under threat especially with the greater destruction of hedgerows allowed under FG Heritage Bill.
Bees > Humans
We are f/(ked
Well done Irish Water, your hose pip ban causing the death of the bumble bee which is vital for food production. Fix the leaks build reservoirs, we need to water the flowers, someone think of the bees.
If the bee’s go we go, which isn’t a bad thing when you think of all the journal commentators gone forever. Paradise :)
Yer wreckin me buzz.
What about the bankers and irish water…
@Anto Whelan: if there any good at the auld pollen I say let them roam wild and free.
have your say