IRELAND will have to tighten its incitement to hatred legislation following agreement by EU Justice Ministers yesterday to joint action on the spread of racism and xenophobia.
The 1989 Prohibition of Incitement to Hatred Act will be amended to cover incitement to discrimination and a ban on statements questioning the Holocaust. The Government will also review the operation of the act and consider if further measures are needed.
The Minister for Justice, Mrs Owen, welcomed the agreement which she said would help the EU deal with the upsurge in racism and xenophobia evident in some member states.
The agreement yesterday, which also provides for closer cooperation between national authorities on the issue, allows for an opt out from parts of the legislation by Britain and Denmark who have argued that the measures are an unwarranted infringement of free speech. But Britain has promised to introduce legislation to prevent it beings used as a distribution point for the rest of the EU for racist material.
Mrs Owen also welcomed indications from the British that a deadlock on the role of the European Court of Justice in Europol matters could be resolved before the summer. She stressed the importance of Europol's involvement in the fight against drug trafficking and serious crime throughout Europe.
