Hate speech Bill straight out of Orwell's 1984 novel

IT might be 2023 but it soon could be George Orwell’s 1984 if the Government’s new hate speech Bill becomes law

- PAT FLANAGAN

Not alone will Big Brother be watching you; he will put you in jail or hit you with huge fines for simply saying something others claim is offensive.

Despite being described as among the most draconian anti-free speech restrictions in the world the Government intends to push ahead with the new laws.

Yet it appears that a good section of the public are totally unaware just how restrictive the new legislation will be if, as expected, it is passed by the Senate.

Those who were aware of it and made their opposition known in a consultation process, including leading lawyers and academics, were totally ignored.

Many see it as the greatest attack on the freedom of speech in the history of the State and akin to something out of Orwell’s dystopian novel, 1984.

That may be the case but the Criminal Justice (Incitement to Violence or Hatred and Hate Offences) Bill has been passed by the Dail and will shortly become law if not delayed by the Senate.

Many see it as giving licence to virtually anyone to be offended by anything and it allows gardai to be called in to take action against alleged offenders.

Under the new legislation almost anything can be construed as hate speech.