Its a seriously flawed piece of legislation that is likely to have multiple negative effects on Irish society in general
Introducing punitive measures to tackle social problems will only serve to criminalise thought processes as well as actions. If we are concerned about victims then there should be more of an emphasis on education and restorative actions for victims of prejedice.
Punishing people for holding prejudices against particular groupings will not eliminate prejudice. Its simplistic to think it will and the recent attempts by government to link rioting to the need for hate crime legislation is an insult to peoples intelligence.
The more serious crimes it plans to deal with are already covered by law. To try to criminalise the hatred in thoughts and minds insted of tackling the issues of institutional prejudice is entirely counter productive. It would be far more beneficial to tackle issues of gender parity in the workplace, the integration of travellers into Irish society and LGBTQ school education than punishment for ill defined 'hatred'.
If you imprison someone for holding views you consider hateful to minorities, their views will not be challenged or somehow altered. In fact Irish prisons are full of misogyny, homophobia, racism and anti traveller sentiment. If anything this will only cement previously held views.
Michael McDowell amongst others has correctly pointed out imo that a hate crime bill that fails to clearly define what 'hate crime' is will only serve to clog the courts with unnecessary cases. Where someone can demand someone be charged not for any actual crime but for what someone may consider to be a crime.
So called progessive groups have latched onto this legislation without properly considering its impact. Its all tied up to the notion that we need to 'punish' those whose views do not tally up with our own. Its twisted thinking. You only change views through education and debate. Punishment achieves nothing.
