Catherine Murphy (Kildare North, Independent)
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Question 88: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he has conveyed to the Ambassador of the Russian Federation or otherwise communicated to the Russian Government Ireland's position on the legislation proposed (details supplied) on 16 November last in the St. Petersburg Legislative Assembly by the United Russia party which, if passed, would drastically curtail basic freedom of speech and expression and severely impinge on the liberties of gay, lesbian and transgender Russian citizens; if so, if he will inform Dáil Éireann of the details of this communication; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37584/11]

Eamon Gilmore (Dún Laoghaire, Labour)
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I understand the draft legislation referred to by the Deputy has passed its first stage in the Saint Petersburg Legislative Assembly. While this draft legislation purports to protect young people, it could, in my view, result in further stigmatisation, and even criminalisation, of lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender (LGBT) young people. A senior official in my Department has been in contact with the Russian Embassy to express concern at this draft legislation. In addition, the European Union plans to raise this matter with the Russian authorities at an EU-Russia human rights dialogue scheduled to be held in Moscow this week. Ireland has been supportive in having this on the agenda of that meeting.

I would hope that the draft legislation at present before the Saint Petersburg Legislative Assembly will be either dropped or amended radically in such a manner that it fully protects the human rights of all lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people in the Saint Petersburg region.

Ireland is strongly committed to combating discrimination on grounds of sexual orientation or gender identity. Ireland believes that consensual, same-sex relationships should not be criminalised. We support measures to ensure that the right to freedom of expression and association can be enjoyed effectively by all people. Discriminatory legal or administrative provisions, which curtail the rights of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people are not acceptable.

Ireland supports the promotion and protection of the human rights of all persons, irrespective of their sexual orientation and gender identity. On Friday, 17 June 2011, a historic resolution on Human Rights, Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity was adopted at the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva. I was delighted to see the adoption of this resolution, which was the first time that a UN resolution explicitly acknowledged human rights protection as covering sexual orientation. This demonstrates the increasing commitment across the international community to the promotion and protection of the human rights of all persons, irrespective of their sexual orientation and gender identity. Ireland co-sponsored the resolution.