Dáil debates

Tuesday, 1 July 2025

Disregard of Historic Offences for Consensual Sexual Activity Between Men Bill 2025: First Stage

 

4:05 am

Photo of Roderic O'GormanRoderic O'Gorman (Dublin West, Green Party)

I thank Deputy Ó Snodaigh for bringing forward this legislation and the campaign group for highlighting the issue. I want us to recall the original provision under which these men were convicted. Section 61 of the Offences Against the Person Act 1861 states that "Whosoever shall be convicted of the abominable crime of buggery, committed either with mankind or with any animal shall be liable ... to be kept in penal servitude for life". It is worth recalling the framing of homosexuality in that legislation from the 1860s, the absolute moral condemnation and the attempts to heap all sorts of condemnation on being gay. We know this same approach is adopted today. It was adopted in Poland up to the recent change after the general election there, and it is adopted in Hungary today. We see this same language online. I think this is why it is so important we are moving to disregard these convictions.

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