Maureen O'Sullivan (Dublin Central, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I welcome the delegates. I hope they will enjoy some rest and relaxation here for the few days. It must be a welcome break from the stress and dangers under which they live in Uganda. I know they are working very hard but at least they are away from the physical danger of being taken in by the police.

We are told that the President of Uganda, privately, does not agree with the Bill. I ask if that gives the witnesses hope considering he is a powerful person. Particularly frightening is the extent of the opposition. There does not appear to be anyone. The human rights organisations which were supportive have been blacklisted so they are also in a very difficult situation.

I agree with Colm O'Gorman about aid. However, there needs to be a human rights approach to aid otherwise I do not know what is its purpose. The point about Irish Aid targeting particular groups such as LGBTI groups might be a means of indicating that the Irish Government and Irish Aid will not support discrimination in society.

This committee is planning a visit to Uganda. Perhaps if the committee delegation asked specifically to meet the LGBTI group or a similar group, that might be a means of indicating our support and our positive engagement with the kind of work carried out by such groups.

Wearing my AWEPA hat, Association of European Parliamentarians for Africa, and following from Deputy Eric Byrne's remarks, I ask about support from the African Union and other African countries who are not as discriminatory as Uganda in this matter. I advise the witnesses to take heart from what has happened in this country even though it took quite a long time and much progress has been made on the issue. I acknowledge, however, that the situation in Uganda is far more serious and dangerous than was the case in Ireland.