Mark Ward (Dublin Mid West, Sinn Fein)

I welcome the Minister's comments on the Bill that was introduced this week by Deputy Ó Snodaigh and several other Opposition Deputies, the Disregard of Historic Offences for Consensual Sexual Activity Between Men Bill 2025. The timing was to coincide with Pride last week and this week. We still have people around the world who are subjected to tyranny and abuse just for being gay. In its essence, this Bill aims to eradicate the historic criminal convictions imposed for the offences of consensual sexual activity between men prior to 1993. The Bill was drafted by campaigners and a lot of work was put into it. A lot of campaigning and research went into the Bill. As the Minister acknowledged, the statistics show that between 1983 and 1993 there were 64 convictions for being gay and there is a good chance that these men are still alive.

I welcome that the Minister is agnostic, as he said, about whether to progress his Bill or the Opposition Bill. What does he think would be the speedier process? Has he given that any consideration? Would he support the progression of the Opposition Bill that was introduced this week?

See this speech in context