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

I am delighted to speak in this debate today. I wish to start by wishing everyone a happy Pride month, especially all those who will celebrate this weekend. I love going to the Pride parade and seeing the vibrancy, colour, positivity, energy, diversity and inclusion that Pride brings to the streets of Dublin and across Ireland, when it comes to parades and celebrations taking place throughout this month. I heard someone remark yesterday that the growth of Pride in rural Ireland is in itself a massive cause for celebration. I hope we see Pride celebrations continuing to pop up in every corner of Ireland. I hope that everyone celebrating this weekend has an enjoyable and safe time. Fine Gael will be well represented in the Dublin parade by the Fine Gael LGBTQ+ committee, of which I am delighted to be the new vice-chair. There is no doubt that our small island has come a long way when it comes to LGBT+ equality. We have become more supportive and welcoming of all sexualities and gender identities but, as we are often reminded, Pride began as a protest. For many LGBT+ people and for all of us allies, that protest element is extremely important, because there is so much more to fight for. Some 33% of LGBTQI+ people experienced discrimination in the previous two years - the highest of any group in Irish society - while 75% of LGBT+ people have been verbally abused due to their sexuality. One in five have been punched, hit or physically attacked in public. This violence and discrimination impacts on people's health and mental health. Young gay people are twice as likely to self-harm, three times more likely to attempt suicide and have four times the level of severe stress, anxiety and depression.

Being online and on social media recently has become a particularly disgusting place when it comes to homophobia and transphobia. That is especially so in these last few months, during which we have seen conversations around gender identity and transphobia dominate. This stems from countries with far more polarising views than our own. It is very easy for people to go down a rabbit hole in these often hate-filled and one-sided discussions and it is too easy to presume that there is widespread support for these hateful views, but we cannot forget that the online space is an echo chamber and it is often the same handful of people again and again who shout the loudest who are heard the most. We all have to take a step back from time to time and remind each other of that, especially when we see hateful commentary directed towards the LGBT community online. We are all politicians - that is our job - who are out and about in our communities. In person, there is overwhelming support and love for the LGBT community and a desire to realise an Ireland in which everyone feels comfortable and supported to live as their full authentic selves. The vast majority of people are more concerned with bettering their own lives than tearing down anyone else's. I worry for young people who are just discovering their sexuality and spend so much time online at a time when their self-esteem and self-worth are vulnerable to being destroyed by a few bad actors on social media. That is why it is so important that we call out homophobia and transphobia for what they are when we see them, which is hate.

From a legislative point of view, the Criminal Justice (Incitement to Violence or Hatred and Hate Offences) Bill 2022 will be important in helping us to address this kind of online abuse. In 2015, Ireland introduced two important pieces of legislation concerning LGBTQI+ equality and inclusion - the Marriage Act 2015 and the Gender Recognition Act 2015, two important pieces of legislation that propelled Ireland forward as an inclusive nation. In the years since, our legislative progress has somewhat stalled. According to the European region of the International Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans and Intersex Association, ILGA-Europe, we are now ranked 16th in Europe in terms of LGBTQI+ human rights and policy protections. One piece of legislation which I believe has the power to improve that ranking is the Health (Assisted Human Reproduction) Bill 2022. I was very honoured to act as the Vice Chairman of the Joint Committee on International Surrogacy. During our hearings, we heard from many incredible witnesses, a number of whom represented or were themselves gay men and women. These parents have gone down the surrogacy route to become a family but are left in legal limbo because, in Ireland, we do not have adequate surrogacy legislation. Having legislation that recognises international surrogacy is vital for those families and future families who go down the international surrogacy route. Understandably, it has particular importance and poignance for the LGBT community and for equality more broadly. As a committee, we made recommendations to the Minister for Health on this matter almost a year ago. I sincerely hope we will not have to wait for another year for them to be incorporated in the Health (Assisted Human Reproduction) Bill 2022 and for the legal and emotional nightmare for these parents, many of whom are gay, to be brought to an end and have their rights over their children safeguarded.

Conversion therapy is something I strongly believe we need to legislate against. I really welcomed the report earlier this year which explored conversion therapy practices in Ireland and found that so-called conversion therapy does take place in Ireland.

I think people will be shocked that in modern Ireland, in 2023, people are still attempting to convert other people from living their full and authentic lives. I call on the Minister to put the recommendations from that report into action as soon as possible and to ban this frankly barbaric practice. The Minister mentioned in his speech that he intends to take action. There must be no place in Irish society for any practice which attempts to persuade a member of the LGBT community that they need to be cured or fixed.

Like all of us, I was horrified and heartbroken last year by the brutal murders of Aidan Moffitt and Michael Snee. I want to take a moment to remember them today and all those others who have died in homophobic attacks. I am saddened to see reports of homophobic attacks continuing to be reported online and in our media. The streets of Dublin, and indeed outside Dublin, are for everyone. No one should have to fear being attacked and especially not for simply being who they are or who they love. These attacks must further strengthen our conviction to pass the Criminal Justice (Incitement to Violence of Hatred and Hate Offences Bill) 2022 without any delay. The Minister for Justice, Deputy McEntee, is very dedicated to delivering this legislation, and I hope we will see this Bill move swiftly through the Houses. We need to send a strong message that there is no room for hatred or homophobia in Ireland and we need strong laws to back up that message.

LGBT+ 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 in the physical world and, crucially, online too. Tolerance and acceptance start in all our communities - in our homes, schools and workplaces, and even in our WhatsApp chats. I said this last year in my statement during Pride month and I reiterate it. The vast majority of us would never intentionally act or speak in a way that is homophobic. It is so important, however, to 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. We must not let unacceptable behaviour towards LGBT members of our community go unchecked.

Ireland in 2023 is certainly a more accepting and welcoming place for people of all genders and sexual orientations. I am extremely proud of how far we have come as a nation, but there is no doubt that we still have a long way to go. I look forward to seeing us continue as a Government and a nation to improve the lives of LGBTQ+ people here in Ireland.

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