Eileen Flynn (Independent) | Oireachtas source

I thank the staff of Leinster House and the politicians who are heavily involved in celebrating Gay Pride this morning. The Taoiseach and the Cathaoirleach gave speeches, and it was lovely to hear. One of the Taoiseach's lines was about the level of homophobia having increased within Irish society. It was good to hear him acknowledge that. It is unfortunate that it has increased, but we also have lots to look forward to with the hate crime legislation. Things are changing. They may be changing very slowly but thankfully they are changing. When we hear our leader speak passionately around the inequalities that still exists it reminds us that Gay Pride is not just a celebration, it is also a protest. It is very important that we understand this and that we know it is not just a celebration. It is a protest for equality.

I also wish to raise the fact that Joint Committee on Key Issues affecting the Traveller Community is setting up operations again today. I am absolutely delighted with that. If I was to never come back in as a Leinster House Member in the next term, this is a legacy that we all did together in order to have the Traveller committee up and running. Again, this is a welcome opportunity, but going forward we need to see more action. I hope this committee will be able to do that. I will also put myself forward to be the Chairperson of the committee. It is important that Travellers lead in the groups that are about them. We always say "nothing about us without us", so hopefully I will get to be Chair of that committee. I wish to use this opportunity to be positive because a lot of the time we can always draw on the negative stuff that happens within society.

Again, this is the opportunity to say "Happy Pride" to everybody and to remember it is a protest. We do have a long way to go to stop homophobia within society in general.