EU Pushes ‘Hate Speech’ Censorship – Irish Government Ready to Sign Away Free Speech

07.07.2025

Last week in the Dáil, Aontú leader Peadar Tóibín issued a stark warning: the EU is demanding Ireland sign off on new hate speech laws, and the Irish government looks ready to roll over and comply – despite the clear danger to your free speech.

Tóibín reminded the chamber that less than a year ago, the government was forced into a humiliating U-turn on its flawed hate speech bill when it became clear the Irish people do not want censorship disguised as protection. Simon Harris overruled the former Minister for Justice at the time, acknowledging the public’s opposition to laws that could silence parents, teachers, and ordinary people for stating truths others might find uncomfortable.

But now, the same government is preparing to sign Ireland up to EU-level hate speech laws, giving Brussels sweeping new powers to determine what we can say, what we can write, and what we can protest.

Under EU Council Framework Decision 2008/913/JHA, member states were required to criminalise certain forms of hate speech and hate crimes. Now, the EU is seeking to expand this power, adding hate speech and hate crime to the list of “EU crimes” under Article 83(1) of the Treaty on the Functioning of the EU. This would give Brussels the authority to propose EU-wide laws with direct reach into Irish speech laws, taking the definition of “hate” out of Irish hands.

The European Commission has reportedly given Ireland until Monday to comply with obligations under the Framework Decision and to align with the next stage of hate speech expansion, with fines looming if Ireland resists.

It is crucial that we ask our local TDs to take a stand against such an anti-democratic move.

You can see Peadar Tóibín's Dáil speech on if you click here!