The Government’s decision to not proceed with the ‘hate speech’ provisions of a proposed ‘hate crime’ law has been welcomed by the Independent Senator, Ronan Mullen.

Minister for Justice Helen McEntee confirmed the move on Saturday, but said she will press ahead with the hate crime part of the criminal justice bill.

Essentially, this means that the parts that deal with alleged incitement to violence and hatred – commonly known as the hate speech elements – will be removed and the Government will press ahead with the other elements that deal with hate crime. This provides for tougher sentences for criminal offences where hate is proven as a motivation for the crime.

While opponents of the bill welcomed the change, they remain skeptical of the remaining, less-controversial part of the bill.

Independent Senator, Ronan Mullen said, the bill “will still need a precise definition of ‘hatred’ and the Government’s proposed weird new definition of ‘gender’ within the list of ‘protected characteristics’ has to change or it will set a negative precedent for future laws”.