Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 28 May 2026
441. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration the number of incidents classified as hate-related, extremist-related or politically motivated recorded by An Garda Síochána in each of the past five years, broken down by county and category; the number resulting in prosecution; and whether his Department has identified any increase in online radicalisation activity. [40969/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Government is determined to stamp out hate-motivated and politically motivated crimes.
An Garda Síochána takes crime against minority groups very seriously. Every suspected hate crime reported to An Garda Síochána is professionally investigated and victims are supported during the criminal justice process. All witnesses or victims of hate crimes should report these to An Garda Síochána.
Hate Crime statistics for the period 2021-2024 have been published on the Garda website at the following link: www.garda.ie/en/information-centre/statistics/. I am informed that Gardaí expect to publish the 2025 report in the coming months.
The Director of Public Prosecutions is fully independent under the Prosecution of Offences Act 1974. The Director of Public Prosecutions decides whether or not someone should be prosecuted, and what crime they should be prosecuted for. I have no role in the operations, functions, oversight or governance of the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions and I am unable to provide any information or statistics relating to the Director's work.
The management of the courts, operational matters and logistical functions, are matters for the Courts and the Judiciary. As a result, my Department does not keep statistics on convictions in the courts. The Courts Service has a dedicated email address for the provision of information to members of the Oireachtas at: oireachtasenquiries@courts.ie.
Regarding online radicalisation activity, there is no doubt that the online environment enables the spread of extremist content and also facilitates increased transnational collaboration among like-minded individuals and groups. The manifestation of online disinformation and incitement to violent action in the physical world is of concern to my Department and An Garda Síochána and part of the Garda response to such incidents is to investigate the role of relevant online activity.
In addition to our counter-terrorism framework, principally the Offences Against the State Acts and the Criminal Justice (Terrorist Offences) Acts 2005-2015, robust statutory measures address extremist activity. This includes the Non-Fatal Offences Against the Person Act, the Criminal Justice (Public Order) Act 1994, and the Prohibition of Incitement to Hatred Act. Furthermore, the Criminal Justice (Incitement to Violence or Hatred and Hate Offences) Act criminalises the dissemination of material which incites violent extremism.
The role of An Garda Síochána in respect of countering these threats is part of the wider whole-of-Government responsibility with regard to addressing the rise in extremism.
The Department of Culture, Communications and Sport has primary responsibility for Online Safety. The Online Services and Media Regulation Act was introduced and Coimisiún na Meán established to regulate online media, including enforcing rules about how online services or platforms should deal with harmful and illegal content on their services.
The Government and relevant state bodies also engage regularly with EU partners, including through the EU Knowledge Hub on Radicalisation, and also with other partners, on the evolving nature of extremism in various ideologies, to develop our understanding of the evolution of the threat posed.
