Ivana Bacik (Dublin Bay South, Labour) | Oireachtas source

I note the focus on equality in the well-being framework and highlight that this year marks two important anniversaries, namely, the 30th anniversary of the decriminalisation of homosexuality through the Criminal Law (Sexual Offences) Act 1993 and 40 years since the landmark case taken by our dear colleague Senator Norris to the Supreme Court in 1983. In that context, have all Government records regarding the litigation and the proposals for law reform been released to the National Archives and are they now publicly available? This would include records from relevant Departments and the Office of the Attorney General, among other State offices. The releasing of all these records, and making them publicly available by way of an archive, would be a really great and positive way of marking, in particular, the 30th anniversary of this important law reform. Of course, cataloguing the records to make them accessible to researchers would be a huge part of that.

As the Taoiseach will recall, my party colleague Deputy Nash proposed some years ago an apology and exoneration Bill to set aside convictions for sexual acts between men that are now lawful and the then Minister for Justice held a public consultation on this late last year. Will the Taoiseach advise what the next steps on that will be? Again, it would be good timing to bring forward that legislation now.

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