Battle for Free Speech—But We Must Keep Up the Pressure!

04.03.2025

Order your leaflets explaining why it’s crucial to keep Ireland free from draconian Hate Speech laws. Order a batch for your friends, neighbours, and family from our office and we’ll deliver them to you for free as part of Family & Life’s campaign to ensure this legislation is not revisited.

You can order directly today at aoife@familyandlife.org

Since the general election, more pro-free speech TDs have been elected, dealing a serious blow to the political establishment that sought to impose censorship laws on the Irish people. Helen McEntee, the leading proponent of the Hate Speech Bill, has been replaced as Minister for Justice by Jim Callaghan. Therefore we must keep up the pressure to ensure this oppressive legislation does not return under another name.

Despite the overwhelming rejection of censorship in the election, the Irish government may still attempt to reintroduce so-called 'Hate Speech' laws. These laws, supported by every major party except Aontú and several independent TDs, sought to undermine free speech, conscience, and religious expression.

The previous bill, which faced massive public backlash, was designed to criminalize people based on subjective interpretations of ‘hate’—with no clear definitions of terms like ‘gender’ or ‘protected characteristics’. In countries where similar laws have passed, they have been used to silence dissenting voices and persecute people for expressing their deeply held beliefs.

We should not fear free speech or bad ideologies. The arena of debate is the best way to deal with bad ideologies. Nobody should fear debate but we should fear censorship and should not allow our freedoms to be eroded. We must continue to lobby TDs and ensure that so-called 'Hate Speech' laws are not introduced.

Join us in defending free speech. Order your free leaflets today and help spread awareness about why we must remain vigilant. Together, we can stop this attack on freedom before it resurfaces.

Email aoife@familyandlife.org to order your leaflets now!