The Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission (IHREC) today launches a new policy statement on hate, warning that the rise of hate and hate-driven incidents in Ireland is threatening human rights and equality, democracy, the rule of law and social cohesion.
The Policy Statement on Hate is being launched at IHREC’s second annual conference, Together Rising, which takes place today.
IHREC is calling for a whole-of-government national strategy and action plan on hate, with a designated lead Department, clear accountability mechanisms and independent monitoring.
Liam Herrick, Chief Commissioner of IHREC, said:
“Hate is not an inevitable feature of Irish society. It is shaped by the choices we make as a society – by political rhetoric, by how we respond to discrimination, by how our institutions operate and by the environment we allow to develop online. “What we are seeing now should concern every one of us. While intolerance and hate has always been a reality for members of minority communities, hate is measurably increasing, and can be seen moving from online spaces into our communities. The climate of fear that this creates is undermining people’s ability to participate safely in public life. When people withdraw from public life because of threats, intimidation or abuse, our democracy is weakened.
The Commission warns that hate is being fuelled by online incitement, misinformation and disinformation, including through the amplification of harmful content by online platforms. It also highlights the role of anti-rights actors in exploiting legitimate concerns about issues such as housing and pressure on public services to promote divisive and hateful narratives.
IHREC’s Annual Poll 2026 shows a significant decline in the proportion of people who believe there is equality in the enjoyment of human rights in Ireland. The poll also shows a sharp decline in the percentage believing efforts to tackle discrimination are effective, with only one in four people agreeing.
The Commission says this loss of confidence, alongside the growth of hate both online and offline, requires a sustained national response.
Hate is a threat to participation and democracy
The policy statement sets out how hate affects people and communities across Ireland, including through racism and xenophobia, anti-migrant hate, anti-Muslim hatred,
antisemitism, anti-Traveller and anti-Roma hate, anti-Black racism, misogyny and sexism, ableism, anti-LGBTQI+ hate and hatred directed at people with intersecting identities.
IHREC warns that the consequences extend beyond those directly targeted. Community groups, civil society organisations, human rights defenders, academics, journalists and public representatives are also experiencing threats, harassment and intimidation.
The Commission says the resulting chilling effect is leading some people to withdraw from public spaces and self-censor their advocacy for human rights and equality.
Liam Herrick, Chief Commissioner of IHREC, said:
“We need political leaders to show courage and leadership in confronting hate, rather than being drawn into or legitimising divisive narratives. We need an education system that gives people the knowledge and critical thinking skills to recognise prejudice and challenge harmful narratives. And we need people of all ages to have the digital and media literacy skills to navigate an online environment where misinformation, disinformation and hate can be rapidly amplified. “The answer cannot be limited to criminal justice measures. We need a sustained, whole-of-society response that tackles the conditions in which hate can flourish and supports the communities experiencing it. “Ireland becoming a more intolerant society is not inevitable. What we need now is leadership to protect human rights, equality and democracy.”
Political leadership must confront hate
IHREC’s policy statement highlights the role of political discourse in shaping the environment in which hate can flourish.
The Commission warns that anti-rights narratives are increasingly influencing mainstream political discourse, particularly around migration and gender. It says political parties must avoid being drawn into adopting anti-rights positions and should reject attempts to legitimise divisive narratives.
The Commission is calling for:
* A national action plan on hate to include measures to prevent and counter hate during candidate selection processes and election and referendum campaigns.
* Greater cooperation and transparency around the monitoring and reporting of hate, intimidation and harassment during electoral campaigns.
* The Standards in Public Office Commission to develop a code of conduct for public representatives that clearly prohibits the use or endorsement of hate speech in political discourse.
* Political, public and community leaders to commit to responding promptly and robustly to incidents of hate speech and hate crime through human rights- and equality-based counter-narratives, while showing solidarity with those targeted.
IHREC says stronger political leadership is particularly important as hateful narratives can discourage people from targeted communities from entering and remaining in politics, reducing the diversity of political representation and undermining informed democratic debate.
Education and digital literacy are central to preventing hate
The Commission says education has a critical long-term role in preventing hate and building resilience to misinformation, disinformation and harmful online content.
Its policy statement recommends that the Department of Education and Youth and the Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science adopt a comprehensive national approach to human rights and equality literacy as a core element of preventing hate speech, hate crime and broader expressions of hate.
This should include:
* Embedding media and digital literacy across all levels of education.
* Supporting a whole-school approach to human rights and equality literacy.
* Strengthening initial teacher education and continuous professional development so teachers are better equipped to respond to hate and harmful online narratives.
* Promoting lifelong media and digital literacy beyond formal education, recognising that adults, parents and wider communities also need the skills to critically assess online information.
* Coordinated implementation across Government, education providers, regulators and civil society.
IHREC says these skills are increasingly important as online platforms, algorithms and AI systems can amplify harmful narratives, misinformation and discriminatory stereotypes.
Action needed across Government, law, online platforms and communities
While political leadership and education are central to prevention, the policy statement sets out recommendations across a much broader range of areas.
These include:
* A national strategy and action plan on hate, with a designated lead Department, dedicated monitoring and independent annual and mid-term reporting.
* Public Sector Equality and Human Rights Duty, including effective Equality and Human Rights Impact Assessments when developing policies, legislation, regulation and processes to prevent and respond to hate.
* Hate crime legislation, including full implementation of the Criminal Justice (Hate Offences) Act 2024 and an independent review three years after commencement.
* Hate speech legislation, with renewed efforts to reform the Prohibition of Incitement to Hatred Act 1989 in line with international standards and with appropriate safeguards for freedom of expression.
* Online regulation, including appropriate resourcing for Coimisiún na Meán and action on online platform recommender systems, including turning them off by default for adults and disabling them entirely for children.
* Media regulation and journalism, including ongoing review of codes of practice and rules for media by Comisiún na Meán, the Office of the Press Ombudsman and the Press Council of Ireland, and ongoing training for media professionals on recognising, reporting and avoiding the dissemination of hate speech.
The link to IHREC’s Policy Statement on Hate can be found here: https://www.ihrec.ie/downloads/Policy-Statement-on-Hate.pdf
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