Subscriber OnlyInside Politics Newsletter

All-action Simon Harris delays - and perhaps drops - hate speech Bill

Taoiseach’s energetic approach has not stopped him allowing contentious issues to fall by the wayside

Parties are preparing for an autumn election, which would mean the hate speech legislation would run out of time. Photograph: Gareth Chaney/PA Wire

Jennifer Bray's face
Jennifer Bray
Wed Jul 3 2024 - 07:39

Good morning,

The theory of relativity may say that nothing can travel faster than the speed of light, but Taoiseach Simon Harris has been giving it a go anyway.

When he’s not whizzing around the country shaking hands with literally everyone in sight, he’s wishing Taylor Swift well, recording social media clips about his day’s work or posting photos of the sunset (yes, really).

Harris promised, when he took office only a short few months ago, that his position on certain contentious matters such as the TV licence fee would become evident by the summer recess. It became clear quite quickly, however, that majorly contentious or onerous issues could just simply be dropped. This was the case for the delayed referendum on a unified patent court, or the Green Paper on disability reform.

READ MORE

Could the same fate now await the controversial hate speech legislation?

Pat Leahy reports today that the hate speech and hate crime Bill is now not expected to return to the Oireachtas before the summer recess, casting doubt on whether it will be enacted before the next general election.

The Bill was paused in the Seanad a year ago when senators, including Michael McDowell, raised a number of questions about it, in particular its definition of gender.

“Authoritative sources have confirmed that the Bill will not return to the Oireachtas before the summer recess as had previously been indicated. This means it will not return until the autumn at the earliest, narrowing the window for the legislation to be passed before the general election. Government leaders have repeatedly said they intend for the Coalition to continue in office until the end of its term in March of next year, but few on any side of politics believe that it will last until then, with all parties preparing for an autumn election. That would make it unlikely that there would be sufficient time to pass the Bill,” Leahy writes.

But would this simply tip the whole thing into a potentially divisive election issue instead? Probably. What will be interesting to see, if it gets to that stage, will be the responses of politicians who previously supported the proposed laws, especially when they’re asked by a curious public in the heat of a contest.

Twin exit for Social Democrats founders

Rumours began circulating early on Tuesday morning that something was brewing in the Social Democrats. By lunch, former Soc Dems co-leaders Catherine Murphy and Róisín Shortall had announced that they would stand down from national politics at the next election. For those who work with them, it was hardly a surprise. They had seen the writing on the wall as soon as they stood down as co-leaders in February of 2023.

As well as a news report, we carry an analysis of their decision, looking at how the party will find it hard to fill the vacuum left in the wake of their planned departure, especially given the fact they have nearly 50 years of Dáil experience between them. That loss of experience and institutional knowledge and instinct will be particularly felt by younger members of the party – not to mention their dedicated staff members who have worked with them for years.

The challenge facing Holly Cairns now is to find two candidates who can hold their own in Dublin North West and Kildare North, and to acquaint them with voters in a relatively short space of time.

One thing is for sure, though. With the extraordinary numbers of veteran TDs due to retire at the next election from across the political spectrum, the 34th Dáil will have a whole new look.

Best Reads

Miriam Lord: Girl power in the Dáil as ”two very formidable politicians” take centre stage.

RTÉ chief takes gentle swipe at politicians’ scrutiny as broadcaster gets latest €20 million bailout.

The Manhattan district attorney’s office has agreed to a request from Donald Trump’s legal team to postpone his criminal sentencing in the recent “hush money” trial to allow the judge to consider their argument that Monday’s US Supreme Court ruling calls his conviction and the entire trial into question.

Testy times in the Dáil: Labour leader Ivana Bacik has accused Minister of State Emer Higgins of engaging in “Fine Gael dog whistling” over her intervention in the proposed Dublin City Council Transport Plan.

Our parliamentary correspondent Marie O’Halloran also has this from the Dáil: Taoiseach Simon Harris and Sinn Féin leader Mary Lou McDonald clash over a Government decision to exempt State-owned lands at the former DIT college on Aungier Street from a law requiring their redevelopment to include social and affordable housing.

Playbook

Dáil Éireann

Topical Issues are up at 9.10am, followed by Private Members’ Business with the Labour Party tabling a motion on gender based violence. Leaders’ Questions are up at noon, followed by questions on policy or legislation. Taoiseach Simon Harris will take questions at 1.05pm, and Government business is scheduled to begin at 1.50pm. At this time, there will be statements on tackling all forms of domestic, sexual and gender based violence. Tánaiste and Minister for Defence Micheál Martin will bring a motion for Dáil approval on a report regarding service by the Defence Forces with the United Nations in 2023. At 8.49pm, the Government’s planned auto-enrolment retirement savings scheme is also before the Dáil, with amendments from the Seanad due to be discussed. The Dáil will adjourn at 10.39pm.

The full schedule can be found here.

Seanad Éireann

Commencement matters are scheduled for 10.30am, followed by the Order of Business an hour later. The Health Miscellaneous Provisions Bill which, among, other things, will enhance the Minister’s power to make regulations for access to medicinal products is up next. At 2.30pm, Senators will discuss the Defence Amendment Bill which would establish a body to be known as Comhlacht Formhaoirsithe Seachtrach Óglaigh na hÉireann. The Bill would impose fines for the unauthorised use of the Irish title of the Defence Forces, Óglaigh na hÉireann. Several paramilitary groups, including the Provisional IRA, have previously referred to themselves as Óglaigh na hÉireann. The proposal follows a Bill brought forward by Senator Malcolm Byrne in 2021, which would have protected the contemporary usage of the title Óglaigh na hÉireann for the Defence Forces. A Bill which would provide for the establishment of a specialised treatment service for the inpatient and outpatient treatment of children and adults of spinal scoliosis will be discussed at 7pm. It is understood the Government is not opposing it. The Seanad adjourns at 9pm.

Committees

The Joint Committee on Health, at 9.30am, will hear from HSE officials on Child and Adult Mental Health Services (Camhs) and other matters. At 10am, the Joint Committee on European Affairs will hold a discussion on the priorities of the Hungarian presidency of the European Council. Committee members will hear from Mr Gergely Bánhegyi, ambassador of Hungary. Newly appointed Minister for Enterprise Peter Burke will appear before the Joint Committee on Enterprise at 10am to discuss his key priorities and legislation. At 1.30pm, Minister for Transport Eamon Ryan will appear before the Joint Committee on Transport and Communications to discuss the Government’s new strategy to manage and reduce congestion. At the same time, the Joint Committee on Drugs Use will discuss decriminalisation, depenalisation, diversion and legalisation with representatives from the Irish College of General Practitioners and Mr Justice Sheehan.

The best of the rest can be found on the home page of the Oireachtas website, here.

Sign up for Politics push alerts and have the best news, analysis and comment delivered directly to your phone