Hildegarde Naughton (Galway West, Fine Gael)

I thank everyone who contributed to this important discussion. It seems astonishing that it was not until 1993 and the passing of the Criminal Law (Sexual Offences) Act 1993 that homosexuality was decriminalised in Ireland. Prior to that, people across the country risked prison for simply being themselves. Attitudes towards individuals and couples who did not fit conventional stereotypes were hostile and indeed the first Pride parade only took place in 1983. It was not the affirming and positive event that we know it is today. That parade saw some 400 people march from Liberty Hall to Fairview Park in Dublin to highlight violence against members of their community, including 31-year-old Declan Flynn, who died following a homophobic attack in Fairview Park the previous September.

Thankfully, Irish society has moved on, but things are not yet where they should be. Just last weekend, thousands attended the annual trans and intersex Pride march through Dublin city centre to highlight concerns affecting their community. As noted in The Irish Times, an Indian member of Queer Asian Pride Ireland who addressed the crowd but did not wish to be identified, said:

every single day for trans people it's so, so difficult to live our daily lives whether in university, at workplaces, in hospital, wherever it is.

We have been spat at, yelled at. I have been egged. I have been mocked so many times, just walking on the street. I am visibly queer and visibly trans and you see the colour of my skin and I can't tell you where the hate is coming from whether it is transphobia, homophobia or whether it is racism.

We note that progress has been made but we cannot pretend that everything is as it should be. As mentioned in the opening remarks of the Minister, Deputy Norma Foley, this year marks a hugely important milestone for both the LGBTQI+ community and Irish history, which is the tenth anniversary of the marriage equality referendum. The referendum was not only a critical step along the way to achieving equality for our LGBTQI+ citizens but one which embodied the type of country so many of us wanted to be part of: a kind, understanding and progressive country which values all of its citizens equally.

Dublin Pride is now one of the biggest annual events in the country. It has become a vital part of our social landscape and is a measure of how far Ireland has come in progressing LGBTQI+ visibility. This year, more than 12,000 participants marched in the parade from across more than 280 different organisations. Pride events take place across the country and play a vital role in providing LGBTQI+ people in Ireland with a platform to be visible. It fosters a sense of community and belonging, particularly for those in rural areas or conservative communities. Pride events are important because they celebrate and reflect on the progress made. They support those who are still struggling and they push for LGBTQI+ equality and inclusion in all facets of our society.

We should remember that the referendum came at the end of a long and difficult journey. For decades, LGBTQI+ people in Ireland were unseen, marginalised and criminalised. For far too long, the State failed to protect its LGBTQI+ citizens. I am particularly conscious as I stand in this Chamber of the work of those Oireachtas Members who did so much to pave the way for equality for LGBTQI+ people in our country. As previously mentioned, homosexuality was decriminalised here in 1993 following a long and difficult legal battle led by Senator David Norris and others. In 2006, the High Court case of Katherine Zappone and the late Ann Louise Gilligan, who sought to have their Canadian marriage recognised in Ireland, was one of the first major events in the debate on the recognition of same-sex marriage in Ireland. In 2010, the Civil Partnership and Certain Rights and Obligations of Cohabitants Act 2010 marked a further step forward, but it fell short of full equality, and crucially, it did not provide provisions for children of same-sex couples. Couples in committed relationships were still denied the recognition and rights that others took for granted, and so the call for marriage equality grew louder, led by brave campaigners, community organisations, families and individuals who shared their stories and truths.

The referendum campaign was unlike any we had seen before. It was deeply personal, deeply emotional, and grounded in hope. We all remember the faces, the voices, and the energy of that campaign, the posters in windows, the queues at airports as people flew home to vote, and the conversations on doorsteps and around kitchen tables. It was a national movement built on empathy and driven by a belief in fairness. So, on that day in May, ten years ago, Ireland responded with extraordinary unity. Ireland showed the world what can be done when a nation comes together and shows compassion and understanding for our fellow citizens.

It was not only a legal victory, but also a cultural one. It told the world who we are and what we stand for. That, in this small island, one shaped by silence and shame, there was now space for inclusion, love, and pride. That moment ten years ago sparked momentous social transformation in our country. Ireland is increasingly seen as an emblem of equality, democracy, and inclusion; a country with a proud record as a champion of human rights and we must not lose sight of this vision.

We see attempts globally to roll back on hard-won progress, endangering the rights and the lives of LGBTQI+ people. We must act collectively to protect and promote LGBTQI+ people's equality and rights, in the knowledge and understanding that all human rights should be upheld together. The lessons of the marriage equality campaign should reignite our commitment to work together collaboratively, in solidarity, to counter these pushbacks.

The passage of the marriage equality referendum a decade ago demonstrated that societal change can occur without societal upheaval. In fact, in the days and years since the referendum, I believe Ireland has become a more accepting and welcoming place than before. We must ensure this vision endures and that Ireland continues to be seen as a symbol of equality, democracy, and inclusion. Our commitment to equality must remain steadfast.

We in government acknowledge the challenges the LGBTQI+ community continues to face and we remain deeply committed to the promotion and the protection of LGBTQI+ equality. We will stand firm in the face of rising hate and must ensure that our message of solidarity is loud and clear.

As mentioned earlier, the new national LGBTQI+ inclusion strategy is the tool by which this Government has agreed to tackle these issues. It will provide a roadmap towards equality for LGBTQI+ people in Ireland over the coming years and reflect the determination of Government Departments and State agencies to work together to better the lives of LGBTQI+ people. This whole-of-government strategy seeks to build on the successes and the achievements of the inaugural strategies and deliver on the key actions to address the continuing challenges LGBTQI+ people face. The strategy has been shaped by reflections and learnings from the implementation of both the LGBTI+ and national youth strategy and the national LGBTI+ inclusion strategy. It is underpinned by human rights principles and is guided by Ireland's international human rights commitments. It is grounded in the voices and the experiences of the LGBTQI+ community.

Listening to intersectional voices in particular has supported the strategy in its approach of addressing the specific needs of the most marginalised people in Ireland. Implementation of the strategy is a programme for Government commitment, a transparent implementation structure, and the publication of annual reports will allow for greater accountability for the delivery of change.

While it is important to celebrate Pride and acknowledge the achievements made, we cannot be complacent. We are not at the end of our journey to equality. LGBTQI+ people still face discrimination, mental health challenges, and threats, especially trans people, young people, and those in marginalised communities. We must continue to defend the rights that have been won and to advance those still denied. We in government must ensure our schools are safe for every child. We must ensure our healthcare system meets the needs of every person. We must stand up against hate wherever it festers, whether online, on our streets, or in our politics and we must be vigilant because progress is not inevitable.

In many parts of the world, LGBTQI+ rights are being rolled back. Rights we might have thought secure are now under attack. We must not let that happen here. The Government is committed to building an Ireland where everyone is safe, seen, and supported. The rainbow flag still flies, not just as a symbol of pride, but as a call to action. Let us answer that call with the same hope, the same decency, and solidarity that carried us to that historic day ten years ago.

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