Elon Musk doesn't need to fund legal challenges and shouldn't be 'butting in' to things he doesn't understand, Shane Coleman has said.
The Newstalk Breakfast host was responding to the Twitter (X) owner's suggestion he would challenge Ireland's new Hate Speech legislation.
In an interview with conservative website Gript Media, Mr Musk said he would also help others to do the same.
Elon Musk is seen during a panel discussion in Berlin, Germany in September 2015. Image: Sueddeutsche Zeitung Photo / Alamy Stock Photo"Our default approach is to challenge any legislation that infringes upon the people's ability to say what they want to say," he said.
"We obviously have standing since our European headquarters are in Ireland.
"We will also fund the legal fees of Irish citizens that want to challenge the bill as well.
"So, we'll make sure that if there's an attempt to suppress the voice of the Irish people, that we do our absolute best to defend the people of Ireland and their ability to speak their mind," he added.
Shane Coleman said this would suit Mr Musk's political agenda.
"I have reservations about the Hate Bill; I have serious reservations about the restrictions it may put on free speech," he said.
"I think there are much more important things for this Government to be worried about.
"But I also have reservations about billionaire businessmen who barely know this country sticking their oar in and making pronouncements about things they don't really know an awful lot about because it suits their political agenda.
"Elon Musk, we don't need you to fund legal challenges in this country.
"We have a pretty good system here where citizens can challenge any legislation.
"The State never goes for costs if they win.... this isn't America Elon Musk, we don't need your money, we don't need you butting in."
'Grave reservations'
Host Ciara Kelly, who has strong reservations about the Hate Speech Bill, said she has concerns about anybody filtering information.
"Whoever controls information controls an awful lot of the public narrative, controls an awful lot of political discourse and ultimately can affect democracy," she said.
"So, I have grave reservations about allowing anybody to control the information that I get to see.
"People like Elon Musk, but also people like the Irish Government, people like anybody.
"I'd like to make up my own mind, thank you very much," she added.
The Criminal Justice (Incitement to Violence or Hatred and Hate Offences) Bill would criminalise “incitement to violence or hatred against a person or a group of persons on account of certain characteristics”.
Critics of the legislation have said it is too authoritarian and too vaguely drafted.
