Aengus Ó Snodaigh (Dublin South Central, Sinn Fein)

Is the Minister aware of the report endorsed by the Equality Authority and the Equality Commission for Northern Ireland on equivalence in promoting equality, which states that while reforms for gay couples do not necessarily need to replicate the measures introduced in the UK, legislation will be required to protect and give effect to equal treatment of transsexual people and lesbian and gay couples under the equivalence requirement? Does he agree that a shortfall exists between the equality protections for lesbian, gay and transsexual people in this State and the protections for these groups in the Six Counties? Does he further agree that, under the equivalence provisions in strand three of the Good Friday Agreement, this Government must introduce human rights and equality provisions for these groups that are at least equivalent to those obtaining in the Six Counties?

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