Fintan Warfield (Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

There are reasons people find it so difficult to live at peace with who they are and to whom they are attracted, both physically and emotionally. The criminalisation of homosexuality until 1992 created a dark cloud over our country, enabling the kind of homophobia that existed in the institutions of the State, an Garda Síochána, in these Houses or among people who took it upon themselves to beat or sometimes kill those who did not conform.

More than six years on from marriage equality, almost monthly, there are reports in the LGBT press about homophobic and transphobic attacks. LGBT youth are still bullied in our schools for who they are and what they look like. More than one third of students reported being shoved or pushed because of their sexual orientation. One in ten of them have been punched, kicked or injured because of their sexual orientation. To accept that reality is to invite depression, anxiety, self-harm and attempted suicide. There are chilling statistics on all of this.

Last Tuesday, a Senator here spoke about the INTO LGBT group, BeLong To, Ireland's LGBT organisation for young people and ShoutOut. The Senator said that these groups "have been allowed to bring harmful and inappropriate resources, interventions and programmes into school". These groups do lifesaving work, for which I thank them. I want to work with Senator Keogan because I believe the kind of Ireland I caught a glimpse of in her contribution and articulated in her speech last Tuesday is not the kind of country in which she or any of us here want to live. My intention is not to embarrass anyone, it is more a plea to Senator Keogan to reflect on the power of her words. I also rise to protect the integrity of the work these groups do and highlight its importance in combating the bullying of LGBT youth by creating a safe and inclusive environment in our schools and allowing all children in our schools to be well informed about their family members, friends and schoolmates.