Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)

It is my honour to address the House today on Pride. It is a particular honour to be here this year as we mark what is a significant year in terms of LGBTIQ+ equality.

As many in the House will be aware, the Dublin Pride Festival took place on 28 June. The streets of the capital were awash with vibrant colours, enjoyment and, most importantly, pride. As the summer moves on, there will be many more events taking place across the country to mark Pride. It is significant to see the expansion of Pride festivals across Ireland, especially in rural areas. I welcome their continued growth year on year. However, Pride month is more than just a festival or parade; it is a powerful statement about love, acceptance and resilience. This year marks a milestone anniversary for the LGBTIQ+ community and for wider society. It is ten years since the people of Ireland voted in their millions to say "Yes" to equality and to dignity. It was undoubtedly one of the most significant moments in the history of this State. On that historic day ten years ago, Ireland became the first country in the world to legalise same-sex marriage by popular vote. With 62% in favour, the people of Ireland made a clear, proud, and compassionate choice to enshrine in our Constitution the equal right of same-sex couples to marry. It was a moment that changed our laws, but more than that, it changed lives.

The annual marriage statistics from the Central Statistics Office, CSO, show that hundreds of LGBTIQ+ couples are proudly getting married each year, including 688 last year. The success of the marriage equality referendum changed Ireland in so many profound ways. There is so much to celebrate in terms of the path to equality for the LGBTIQ+ community since that remarkable day. However, we must be mindful that equality is not a single destination. It is a continuous journey and one that we must remain committed to with the same spirit that defined that extraordinary day ten years ago. Pride is a moment to look forward, not just back, including: to reflect on the work still to be done; to combat discrimination; and to show the LGBTIQ+ community we stand in solidarity with them. Progress can be achieved when we collaborate and renew our efforts to advance equality for all. As Malala Yousafzai said, "We cannot all succeed when half of us are held back".

The new national LGBTIQ+ inclusion strategy 2024-2028 is a manifestation of the Government’s commitment to meet the challenges the LGBTIQ+ community continue to face. I am pleased to inform the House that I launched the strategy and its accompanying first two-year action plan last month. It was developed following an extensive consultation with the LGBTIQ+ community. One of the key messages that emerged is that it should be focused on making the biggest impact on the key priority areas that mattered most to the LGBTIQ+ community. That means there is a reduced number of actions compared to the previous strategy, but with the aim of achieving meaningful progress.

There are four pillars on which this strategy is built, including safety, health and well-being, participation and inclusion and equality and non-discrimination. The strategy will aim to promote and respect the right of LGBTIQ+ people to live their lives safely and free of harassment and violence through several prevention and protection measures in these key priority areas. This will include: addressing misinformation relating to LGBTIQ+ people; developing effective approaches within the criminal justice system towards addressing the safety issues experienced by the LGBTIQ+ community; enhancing awareness of the occurrence of domestic, sexual and gender-based violence within the LGBTIQ+ community because there is evidence to suggest that LGBTIQ+ people are afraid of reporting for fear of not being believed; and improving safety for LGBTIQ+ people in public spaces.

There are commitments in this cross-departmental strategy to invest in mental health services to improve access and provide tailored and specific supports for LGBTIQ+ people. This is essential because research has shown LGBTIQ+ people can face significant health issues, including high levels of depression, anxiety and stress. Another important commitment in the strategy is continuing to address and prevent LGBTIQ+ bullying in schools. I know from my time as Minister for Education that providing an inclusive education for our young people through fostering respect and understanding, promoting respect for diversity, reducing bullying and ensuring students feel a sense of belonging is of utmost importance. Our updated curriculum and anti-bullying measures in schools are working to create classrooms where students feel more included, more understood and more valued. The Irish word for kindness is "cineáltas". The Cineáltas: Action Plan on Bullying in schools is a key tool in tackling behaviour or language that intends to harm a student because of their membership of the LGBTIQ+ community.

Community-led organisations across the country have been supported with crucial funding to promote inclusion, protect rights and improve quality of life and well-being for LGBTIQ+ people. Many of these organisations open their doors and their phone lines to listen, to welcome and to offer support to members of the community. Particularly in more rural areas, these spaces and organisations play such an important and central role. We must continue to nurture and support them. The Department of Children, Disability and Equality has a LGBTI+ community services fund which has provided €5.46 million in funding to 138 projects since 2020. I acknowledge that the former Minister, Deputy Roderic O'Gorman, is in the Chamber. I acknowledge also his work in this regard and, indeed, in terms of the strategy. The fund supports the establishment and enhancement of safe spaces in their many forms across the country. The importance of these safe spaces for LGBTIQ+ people cannot be underestimated in creating connections, solidarity and a sense of belonging.

For example, Youth Work Ireland with the support of the LGBTI+ community fund launched a new online youth cafe in January this year. It is held monthly for young neurodiverse LGBTQI+ people aged 18 to 24 years old to connect safely with peers and be supported by trained youth workers. I recently launched the funding call for the 2025 version of the community services fund with €1.4 million of funding being made available.

The increased levels of harassment and persecution of LGBTIQ+ people globally make many of our LGBTIQ+ citizens feel unsafe. We cannot stand by and let such sentiments take hold in Ireland. Kindness, understanding, solidarity and hope are the values and beliefs that must remain central to our work as we continue on the journey of equality. As the old Irish saying goes "Ar scáth a chéile a mhaireann na daoine" - "We live in the shadow of one another".

Ireland has increasingly become seen as an emblem of equality, democracy and inclusion. It is a country with a proud record as a champion of human rights. The European Parliament's Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs recent report on the European Commission’s LGBTIQ equality strategy highlighted the current challenges to LGBTIQ+ safety across Europe. In particular, the report noted that the rise of far right political forces has motivated an increase of the harassment and persecution of LGBTIQ+ persons in Europe.

Each year, the Rainbow Europe annual review ranks all 49 European countries on the basis of their legal and policy situation regarding LGBTQI+ rights. In this year’s Rainbow Europe report, Ireland placed 14th out of 49 countries in the general ranking. This represents an improvement from previous years, when Ireland placed 16th.

However, despite all the progress that has been made in making Ireland a more tolerant and welcoming place to live for the LGBTQI+ community, it is troubling to see that homophobic attacks are still taking place. Statistics published by An Garda Síochána show that there were 70 hate crimes and hate-related incidents recorded last year where the motive was hatred of a person’s sexual orientation. That is a reduction on the 109 hate crimes and hate-related incidents in 2023 where the motive was hatred of a person’s sexual orientation, but one such incident is one incident too many. We need to send a clear message to those who wish to inflict suffering on our LGBTQI+ citizens that this will not be tolerated.

In celebrating Pride, we recognise that equality is measured not only in laws and policies, but in the existence of spaces for joy, expression and inclusion. As Minister for disability, I highlight that July is also Disability Pride Month. I was impressed by the article written by Dr. Margaret Kennedy, a disability activist, in the Irish Independentthis week. She highlighted the need for disabled people to be accepted by society for who they are. She wrote:

We have a month of Disability Pride, because we who are disabled and you who are not, need one. It is OK to be deaf. It is OK to be in a wheelchair. It is OK to have cerebral palsy, or a speech ... [impediment], or autism. There is nothing bad or wrong about you having these conditions.

What has happened is that the world has still not accepted who we are. That is their loss.

Disabled people have many gifts to bring. Wisdom. Joy. Successes. We are proud of who we are. And [of] all [that] we achieve.

That is a powerful message and one that is well worth amplifying.

Pride is both a celebration and a protest. It is also a promise that Ireland will continue to be a place where equality grows and where no one is left behind. I reiterate that the Government remains committed to working with and for the LGBTQI+ community as we continue on our journey of equality.

See this speech in context