Emer Higgins (Dublin Mid West, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I commend the previous speaker, who is on my housing committee and with whom I work closely, on a very open and frank contribution here today. I am delighted to be speaking on this important topic today. I will start by wishing a happy Pride month to everybody and especially to all those who are preparing to celebrate this weekend. I always love attending the Pride parade in Dublin and seeing our capital city flooded with colours, vibrancy, diversity and, most importantly, with a considerable and palpable sense of inclusivity.

We have come a really long way in Ireland in recent years and our small island has become increasingly more tolerant and welcoming of all sexuality and gender identities. We are better at celebrating and accepting each other. Just recently I was delighted to see a rainbow zebra crossing popping up in Clondalkin village and I hope it is a project South Dublin County Council replicates. A rainbow crossing may seem like a really small gesture - and it is - but it also sends a big message of inclusion and rejection of intolerance.

This debate indicates how far we have come from a political perspective, which is so welcome. We are often reminded that Pride began as a protest and it is really important to remember that. There is no doubt that this year's Pride celebrations will also be a protest because although we have come a long way, there are many members of the LGBTQI community who are angry and sad. Unfortunately, there are many reasons to be angry and sad. For many, this year's Pride will highlight the recent increases in rates of horrific homophobic attacks in our communities.

Like all of us, I was horrified by the brutal murders of Mr. Aidan Moffitt and Mr. Michael Snee just a few short months ago. I am saddened to see reports of homophobic attacks continuing to be reported online and in our media. These attacks must further strengthen our conviction to pass the criminal justice (hate crime) Bill without any delay. I know this is something the Minister for Justice, Deputy McEntee, is very dedicated to delivering, and I hope we will see this Bill move swiftly through the Houses. This will ensure sexual orientation and gender can be viewed as protected characteristics when prosecuting perpetrators of crimes filled by prejudice and hatred.

We need to send a strong message there is no room for hatred or homophobia in Ireland and we need strong laws to back up that message. Listening to advocacy groups, I have heard calls for greater collaboration with the LGBTQI community with this legislation so their views and experiences can be better captured, and I hope that will happen. LGBTQI people are one of the most targeted communities when it comes to hate crime and hate speech and it is vital we have robust legislation that can protect this community from abuse both in the physical world and, crucially, online too.

It is important to stress that tolerance and acceptance starts in all our communities. It starts in our homes, schools and workplaces, and even in our WhatsApp chats. The vast majority of us would never intentionally act or speak in a way that is homophobic but it is so important we also recognise the damage that can be done by having a blasé attitude towards discrimination, offensive language, so-called jokes or hate speech. When we see or hear it, we must call it out. It is that simple. Do not let unacceptable behaviour go unchecked.

My party colleague, Deputy Carroll MacNeill, recently highlighted the shocking availability of homophobic, sexist and misogynist relationship and sexuality in education, RSE, teaching materials. The specific matter has been addressed but it speaks to a wider problem in our approach to RSE. It is so important that in our primary and secondary schools we are educating children in a manner that is inclusive of the LGBTQI community and that appropriately introduces ideas like sexuality and gender at an early age.

Given the recent increase in the rate of homophobic attacks, I also support the establishment of a specific Garda task force to tackle homophobic hate crimes. I welcome the national LGBTI inclusion strategy that An Garda Síochána is working on to increase reporting of hate crimes by members of the LGBTQI community. I welcome commitments to increasing the Garda presence on our streets, particularly here in Dublin city centre. This presence is crucial to ensuring everybody feels safe to be themselves and be free from attack or persecution on the streets of our capital city and the wider country. At the end of the day, that should not be an unreasonable thing to expect.

I have been a part of the Oireachtas special committee considering international surrogacy for the past number of months. During its deliberations, we have heard many heartfelt testimonies from families through surrogacy, some of whom were also members of the LGBT community. These are parents who have gone down the surrogacy route to become a family but who are left in legal limbo because in Ireland we do not have adequate surrogacy legislation. Having legislation that recognises international surrogacy is vital for these and future families who go down the international surrogacy route. It will have particular importance and poignance for the LGBTQI community and for equality. In the next few weeks, our committee will make our official report to the Minister and I sincerely that our recommendations will not only be taken seriously but be taken on board and adapted into Ireland's surrogacy legislation through Ireland's Health (Assisted Human Reproduction) Bill.

The programme for Government contains a commitment to legislate to end the practice of conversion therapy, an objective I strongly support. There should be no place in Irish society for any such pseudoscientific practice, which attempts to persuade a member of the LGBT community of a need to be cured or fixed. It is ludicrous. We must ban conversion therapy and implement stringent sanctions for those who continue to inflict this so-called therapy on others. I understand the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth, led by the Minister, Deputy O'Gorman, is in the process of capturing the views of those who have undergone conversion therapy in order to better inform the legislation. It is really important work and I look forward to that being completed.

I highlight the work that many amazing advocacy and charity groups do to support the LGBTQ community in Ireland. I was really pleased yesterday to hear that the Government has made €900,000 available to support community services and promote visibility and inclusion of LGBTQI people. It will help promote inclusion, protect rights and to improve quality of life and well-being for people in Ireland. I hope that funding will be availed of by local and national groups.

Ireland in 2022 is certainly a more accepting and welcoming place for people of all genders and sexual orientation. I am proud of how far we have come as a society but we are also far from perfect and we have further to go. That is for sure. I look forward to seeing us continue as a Government and as a nation to improving the lives of LGBTQ people here in Ireland.

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