Focus on the definition of gender in the Hate Crime Bill has taken attention away from its intended purpose, the Justice Minister has said.

The Criminal Justice Bill - also known as the Hate Crime Bill - passed through the Oireachtas yesterday, meaning it can now be signed into law.

The Bill will see increased prison sentences introduced for crimes that are proven to be motivated by hatred, or where hatred is demonstrated.

On Newstalk Breakfast today, Minister Helen McEntee said she believes a lot of people are “missing the objective” when it come to the Bill.

“This is not a gender recognition bill; this is not a bill focusing on the legal status of a person,” she said.

Minister McEntee said some people had raised concerns that the bill would not protect them unless they had cert showing they had legally transitioned.

“We know that there are people who are non-binary, we know that there are people who don't conform – and this is not about their legal status," she said.

“It's about the fact that there are minority people in this country - and in particular the LGBTI community – who are being targeted.

“There have been increases in hate crimes where people have been physically assaulted because of the fact that they're different.”

Language

The language of the Bill defines gender as including ‘the gender of a person or the gender which a person expresses as the person's preferred gender, or which the person identifies, which includes transgender and a gender other than those of male or female.’

Minister McEntee said the Bill is not a legal definition of gender.

“The point is not that we're defining genders,” she said.

“What we're saying is ... if you are part of a group that is being targeted and is more vulnerable, that you - under this legislation - will be protected.”

The Bill will now be passed onto the President to be signed into law.