Polling commissioned by ADF International found that a quarter of respondents in Ireland felt restricted when expressing views at work, in education or in social settings.
The survey also found that 90% of respondents considered freedom of speech very important, while one in four were concerned about losing that right. The findings were published while Ireland debated a proposed hate-speech law.
OIDAC Europe highlighted concerns that broad offences and reversed evidential burdens could chill lawful speech, including the expression of religious views on contested social questions.