Conor Sheehan (Limerick City, Labour)

We have a number of attacks on LGBTQI+ people and community in recent months. In Cork, there was an assault on two drag performers, Krystal Queer and Lucina Schynning. In Limerick recently two young students were hospitalised after they were set upon in a homophobic attack. As a gay man, I would not feel comfortable walking the streets of this country holding the hand of a partner. I do not think many LGBT people would. Homophobic violence is a crime; we know that. It is under-reported and significantly on the rise. We know Government has the LGBTIQ+ inclusion strategy. Will it commit to a national action plan to address hate in all of its forms, particularly hate against LGBT people? What would the Tánaiste say to any LGBT person who is afraid to live their life in the fullest sense, to walk the streets of this country and hold the hand of a partner to express a symbol of love in public? This is a very real problem and it is getting significantly worse.

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