Ireland will not introduce hate speech laws, its justice minister said on Saturday, dropping a central part of the response to riots in Dublin last year following criticism from some government lawmakers,

McEntee told Irish broadcaster RTÉ that "in order to bring forward new hate speech legislation we need a consensus". "We don't have that at the moment," she said. However she sai

In order to bring forward new hate speech legislation we need consensus, we don’t have that at the moment,’ Ms McEntee said on Saturday.

The Government will drop controversial plans to introduce hate speech laws, Minister for Justice Helen McEntee has confirmed after it was revealed in The Irish Times on Saturday. However, the Minister has insisted she will press ahead with the hate crime part of the criminal justice legislation despite it being seen as a row-back on her commitment.

Sky News host James Morrow discusses a new development in Ireland’s hate speech legislation which he described as “a win” for free speech.