Thread by @brandubh4

The debate in the Seanad on Hate Speech will start in 10 minutes. You can watch it on the link below.

oireachtas.ie/en/oireachtas-…

I'm going to be live tweeting in this thread.

#NoHateSpeechLaws

They're discussing a different bill right now. I think they'll be discussing hate speech after.

This is what they said on the Oireachtas website.

They've just passed the other bill. Hate Speech is coming up now.

#NoHateSpeechLaws #KillTheBill

Yes it's up now.

#NoHateSpeechLaws #KillTheBill

Sharon Keogan is speaking.

#NoHateSpeechLaws #KillTheBill

She says that it's no secret that she is against the bill and she points out that most of Ireland is against it too.

(She's right)

#NoHateSpeechLaws #KillTheBill

She says that this piece of legislation is so broad that no Irish citizen can be sure they won't fall foul of it. She says it's hard to see this law as anything other than something to produce a chilling effect, preventing free speech.

#NoHateSpeechLaws #KillTheBill

She says that she does not like the fact that "sex charicteristics" are used instead of "sex" in the bill.

#NoHateSpeechLaws #KillTheBill

Keogan says that she has over 80 amendments to add the bill.

#NoHateSpeechLaws #KillTheBill

"This is clown world stuff"

(Yes, yes and yes!)

#NoHateSpeechLaws #KillTheBill

She refences the fact that many lesbians and gays are agisnt the bill. She says that Not All Gays has been in touch with every single senator.

#NoHateSpeechLaws #KillTheBill @NotAllGays

Keogan says that they're won't be enough members of the Garda Síochana to arrest everyone who will break this law.

She points out how under the bill it will be a crime to withhold your passwords from the Gardaí.

She says that this bill is made the powerful to stamp out the voices of the minority.

#NoHateSpeechLaws #KillTheBill

I think the chair of the debate is Lynn "Terf Cutter" Boylan.

https://twitter.com/brandubh4/status/1535575030222004225

#NoHateSpeechLaws #KillTheBill

Senator Regina Doherty is speaking now. She says we need a clear definition of hate in the bill.

#NoHateSpeechLaws #KillTheBill

She says that she, apart from bills over mother and baby homes, has never received so many emails about a bill before.

(Well done everyone!)

#NoHateSpeechLaws #KillTheBill

Senator Crockwell is speaking now. He is thanking Free Speech Ireland for their work.

#NoHateSpeechLaws #KillTheBill @FreeSpeechIre

It's seantor Gerard Craughwell, sorry.

He says the definition of "gender" in the bill is different to the one used everywhere lese in law.

#NoHateSpeechLaws #KillTheBill

He says that whatever your position on transgenderism you are likely to be prosecuted under this law anyway, due to the vague definition of hate.

#NoHateSpeechLaws #KillTheBill

He asks that when people are discussing the bill, they don't use things that are already crimes as a smolkscreen.

#NoHateSpeechLaws #KillTheBill

He says that he cannot label everyone emailing him with concerns about this as far right bigots.

#NoHateSpeechLaws #KillTheBill

Senator Robby Gallagher is speaking now. He says that it's very sad that a law has to be passed about hate speech.

#NoHateSpeechLaws #KillTheBill

He says that it would be reasonable to suggest that there is a lot of debate out there on this bill. He says the senators have to take this on board.

#NoHateSpeechLaws #KillTheBill

He says that there needs to be clarity in the bill.

#NoHateSpeechLaws #KillTheBill

He says it's important for people to know where the line is drawn on hatred and incitement.

#NoHateSpeechLaws #KillTheBill

Senator O'Donnell is speaking now.

#NoHateSpeechLaws #KillTheBill

Senator Victor Boyhan is speaking now. He says we need to bring Hate Crime but clarity is needed.

He's talking about how he also received hundreds of hundreds of emails from people of all walks of life.

He says everyone should be able to disagree amicably abd respectfully and that this is what forms diversity.

He is reading from The Bar Review.

It says that it is argued that free speech is rendered potent if it's only speech that is supported.

He says it's not right that people are subject to hatred because of religion, sexual orientation, ethnicity etc.

He says he does not want the bill guillotined but amended.

He says the current bill is at odds with Ireland's democracy.

He urges other government members to bring forth amendments.

He says "hatred has no place and should have no place in our democracy and society"

#NoHateSpeechLaws #KillTheBill

Tom Clonan is up now. He says that despite some images of him that circulated online he is not part of any coalition that has anything to do with Hate Speech.

#NoHateSpeechLaws #KillTheBill @ProtestSilenced.

He describes how the debate about hate speech has become "feral".

#NoHateSpeechLaws #KillTheBill

He says that, although he does not oppose the bill, he is worried Hate Speech Laws will infringe upon freedom of expression.

#NoHateSpeechLaws #KillTheBill

He is talking about how he exposed what happened when he exposed how women were treated terribly in armed forces.

#NoHateSpeechLaws #KillTheBill

He says that it scares him to think about what could have happened to him had he said such unpopular, provocative things under hate speech laws.

#NoHateSpeechLaws #KillTheBill

He says he has received correspondances from so many people and that it's not just keyboard warriors.

#NoHateSpeechLaws #KillTheBill

He says that this bill should be revisited later in the year.

#NoHateSpeechLaws #KillTheBill

Senator Burke is speaking now.

#NoHateSpeechLaws #KillTheBill

He would like to promote kindness. He says we don't focus enough on kindness and loving behaviour.

#NoHateSpeechLaws #KillTheBill

He says people sports are sometimes discriminated against based on race, sexual orientation etc.

#NoHateSpeechLaws #KillTheBill

He says when someone is assaulted because of their sexuality they know because of the language used by the attacker.

#NoHateSpeechLaws #KillTheBill

He says artists and cartoonists often make offensive pieces. He says it is a question of incitement.

#NoHateSpeechLaws #KillTheBill

He is now talking about language. He talks about how the "gay community" has reclaimed the formerly derogatory term "queer".

(It's mostly straights wanting to be glamorous using queer)

#NoHateSpeechLaws #KillTheBill

He says that many people opposing the bill because of free speech are trying to have books banned from schools and that they can't have it both ways.

(The books we are trying to get out of schools contain explicate, inappropriate sexual content)

#NoHateSpeechLaws #KillTheBill

Minister Helen McEntee is speaking now.

#NoHateSpeechLaws #KillTheBill

She claims that we are not introducing anything extremely new and radical in the bill.

#NoHateSpeechLaws #KillTheBill

She responds to many people's concerns of the bill being rushed. She says it's been in the works since 2019.

#NoHateSpeechLaws #KillTheBill

She says that people can say whatever they want as long as it does not incite hatred.

(So they can't say whatever they want. And what does hatred mean???)

#NoHateSpeechLaws #KillTheBill

She says free speech will remain a cornerstone of our society under Hate Speech Laws.

(No it won't. It jus won't. How can she not see this?)

#NoHateSpeechLaws #KillTheBill

She says saying "men can't breastfeed" won't be a crime under this law.

(That's not what the bill says. It criminalises offending people and that statement will offend people.)

#NoHateSpeechLaws #KillTheBill

She says she has been reccomended to not add synonyms of hatred to the bill.

#NoHateSpeechLaws #KillTheBill

She says the meaning of hatred is widely understood.

(If it's widely understood why can't that "widely understood" definition be used in the bill then?)

#NoHateSpeechLaws #KillTheBill

She is talking about how much harder it would be to prosecute people for Hate Crimes if a clearer definition was used.

(Note: The current definition is literally "Hatred means hatred")

She says that there is overwhelming support for this legislation.

(It's just lie after lie with this woman)

#NoHateSpeechLaws #KillTheBill

She says that some senators have had a problem with the definition of gender. She says the definition used in the bill is to facilitate people who aren't male or female.

(Everyone is either male or female)

#NoHateSpeechLaws #KillTheBill

She says that she is very sorry about what Tom Clonan went through when he exposed what was happeining in the army. She says this bill will not provide people with a tool to silence others.

(Yes it will)

#NoHateSpeechLaws #KillTheBill

She is now wrapping up her speech and saying that she thinks she has addressed all the points raised by senators.

#NoHateSpeechLaws #KillTheBill

The Seanad is voting now!

#NoHateSpeechLaws #KillTheBill

They've finished early at half four. It was supposed to end at five. Before they finished they voted on amendment one, only it's not clear what amendment one is. The majority voted against it. This was the result. 👇

#NoHateSpeechLaws #KillTheBill

They did not vote on the overall bill.

#NoHateSpeechLaws #KillTheBill

Apparently the amendment was to continue debating the bill for a further for six months. However the majority voted against it.

#NoHateSpeechLaws #KillTheBill

https://twitter.com/FreeSpeechIre/status/1671536865516609536

@threadreaderapp Please unroll