DUBLIN (Reuters) – Ireland will not introduce hate speech laws, its justice minister said on Saturday, dropping a central part of the response to riots in Dublin last year following criticism from some government lawmakers, opponents and billionaire Elon Musk.
The government first brought the proposed legislation before parliament two years ago and further prioritised tightening anti-hate laws it said were unfit for the social media age last November after the unprecedented night of rioting in Dublin.
The plans have since drawn increased criticism from within government and Justice Minister Helen McEntee said she would remove the incitement to hatred proposals and proceed only with the parts of the legislation that deal with hate crime.
“I believe (existing incitement to hatred legislation) needs to be strengthened. However, we need a consensus to do that and we don’t currently have that,” McEntee told national broadcaster RTE. The Irish Times first reported the news on Saturday.
X-owner Musk said earlier this year that his social media would fund any Irish legal challenges to the hate speech legislation.
(Reporting by Padraic Halpin, Editing by Timothy Heritage)
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