Dominic Hannigan (Meath East, Labour) | Oireachtas source

Tá áthas orm bheith anseo anocht chun an t-ábhar seo a phlé. When I was growing up in Ireland in the 1970s and 1980s, homosexuality was still a crime. Today, in this House and throughout the houses of Ireland, gay people can be open and honest about themselves. For many of us it is a freedom that was unimaginable back in those days of the 1980s. Anybody middle aged or older will recognise the changes we have seen in this country in the past few decades. We have moved on so much that we are now at the stage where full equality is achievable for the LGBT community. We are on the verge of introducing marriage equality.

Some people argued in the past that it might be possible to introduce civil marriage by bringing forward a Bill in this House, passing it and then seeing whether the courts found it to be constitutional. I prefer this referendum approach because it demonstrates to the world how far we, as a country, have come. It means the Irish people can show that they believe it is time to extend equal rights to all citizens in the country. That is a much more powerful message to send out compared to a court decision.

I will be working hard to make sure that we get a "Yes" vote in the referendum in May. Following it, there will still be battles to be fought and won. In particular, we need to do more for our young LGBT people. Apart from being a Member of this House, I am a director of the charity BeLonG To, which helps young people deal with their sexuality and gives them the tools to grow up into mature adults. I know from my work with BeLonG To that bullying of young LGBT people still takes place. I know the impact that bullying can have on many young people, but I know also that things are starting to improve in this area because of the work of organisations like BeLonG To and the work of the former Minister for Education and Skills, Deputy Ruairí Quinn, and the current Minister, Deputy Jan O'Sullivan, who brought in new proposals to tackle this issue.

This morning, I spoke to 300 school children in Edenderry, County Offaly, during their LGBT awareness week. I was asked in by the student council, with the permission of the teachers, to address the students. It is wonderful that in 2015 we have schools that consider it important to raise awareness of LGBT issues among their students. When we see our younger citizens organise events like that, it is impossible not to feel great hope for our country.

I spoke to the children about the history of LGBT rights in Ireland and what it is like to be a member of the LGBT community, and the importance of acceptance and of making sure that gay and straight people work together to overcome what can be a very difficult period during the teenage years of development. One of the benefits of a "Yes" vote in this referendum will be to show that all of our young LGBT teenagers can grow up as equal citizens, equally valued as their straight colleagues and peers.

The referendum campaign is swinging into full gear. I will be canvassing for a "Yes" vote as I know will many other people from this House. I look forward to the debates that will take place over the coming months. I am sure that at times it will be frustrating and difficult and I imagine that many tears will flow over the course of the campaign.

I do not expect it to be a completely pleasant experience, but it is a necessary experience.

If this referendum is carried, Ireland will be the first country in the world to introduce same-sex marriage by referendum. Some states in the United States have introduced same-sex marriage, but no country has introduced marriage equality by means of a popular vote. If we vote "Yes", then we can truly say that we are leading the world in how we treat the LGBT community.

As we approach the centenary of 1916, I cannot think of a better way to honour those who fought in the Rising than to show how we, as a nation, are delivering on the Proclamation: "The Republic guarantees religious and civil liberty, equal rights and equal opportunities to all its citizens, and declares its resolve to pursue the happiness and prosperity of the whole nation and of all its parts, cherishing all of the children of the nation equally."

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