The Government’s planned laws against ‘hate speech’ will target people who “intentionally or recklessly” incite hatred against individuals or groups,  Minister for Justice Helen McEntee has said. Such laws are often attacked by critics for undermining free speech.

Speaking Thursday at the launch of a report recommending stronger hate speech and hate crime legislation, the Minister said the test for criminal hate speech will be the perpetrator’s intentions, not how the speech was perceived by the victim.

The Bill, which is due to be drafted over the coming months, will list trans people and people with disabilities, alongside already protected groups such as other members of the LGBT community people, refugees and immigrants, Travellers and ethnic and religious groups.

Asked if it will be an offence to misgender a trans person or use their former name, Mr McEntee said: “We’re not trying to catch people out, this is not something you can stumble into by accident. This is not about somebody causing offence to somebody else or misspeaking.