It would be "useful" if the Government introduced new hate crime laws, the Garda Commissioner has told Newstalk.
It comes after a man was violently attacked by a group of teenagers in a suspected homophobic attack in north Dublin.
Marc Power says he was lured to a carpark in Coolock on Tuesday night through a fake profile on the dating app Grindr.
In a social media post detailing the attack, Mr Power said the teenagers "were trying to hit me on the head with hammers".
Mr Power was taken to Beaumont Hospital with non-life-threatening injuries, and gardaí are now investigating the assault as a hate crime.
Garda Commissioner Drew Harris today said he would welcome legislation to specifically deal with hate crimes.
Commissioner Harris told Newstalk: "Legislation which would back up a criminal justice response would obviously be useful.
"At the same time, these are serious matters - subject to investigation, and are well covered by criminal justice legislation.
"We will use those effectively in the meantime, but I know the Government is considering specific hate-type legislation."
He added: "It would be welcome in terms of it identifying that hate crime often has a disproportionate impact on the victim, and therefore that a criminal justice response overall recognises that."
The Garda Commissioner also confirmed that the assault earlier this week has been designated as a hate crime incident.
He noted: "It is receiving the necessary investigation - we hope then to be able to report people to the Director of Public Prosecutions for a criminal justice outcome."
