John Downing: Why Simon Harris may put proposed hate-speech laws on ice ahead of summer elections

Taoiseach Simon Harris seems to note a rising sense of unease about the planned legislation. Photo: PA

John Downing

Hate-speech laws look increasingly likely to be kicked down the road as politicians struggle to allay public concerns.

Already shelved is an innocuous referendum, due to run with the local and European elections on June 7, on allowing Ireland join the EU patent court. A potential vote about a directly elected mayor of Dublin has also been put on ice.