Mayo Senator Lisa Chambers is among a group of Fianna Fail Senators that have voiced concerns over controversial new legislation on hate speech.

The Bill recently passed through the Dáil and has commenced in the Seanad.

Senator Chambers said she has issues with ‘hate’ not being defined in the Bill.

Minister McEntee has defended the Bill’s lack of definition of the word ‘hate’, saying both the current and former attorney generals had advised not defining ‘hate’ in the Bill.

Minister McEntee argues if you use other words to define ‘hate’, then you have to explain those words and you could potentially create a gap in the legislation.

Having received a large number of emails on the subject, Senator Chambers says she has concerns about the Bill.

She believes that there is no real desire for the hate speech element of the Bill, saying that there is support for hate crime legislation but it’s the hate speech element that’s problematic.

The Mayo Senator is ‘surprised’ at how quickly the Bill moved through the Dáil and is asking the Justice Minister to clarify whether they are going further than is required with the  legislation, under EU law.

Senator Chambers has been speaking to Midwest News Editor Teresa O’Malley about her outstanding concerns …