Clare Daly (Dublin Fingal, Independent)
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113. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade his views on the situation with regard to LGBTQI persons (details supplied) in Egypt. [44089/17]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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I am aware of the worrying situation with regard to LGBTI people in Egypt, to which the Deputy refers.

The promotion and protection of the rights of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and intersex (LGBTI) individuals globally is a priority for Ireland in our international human rights advocacy, including our engagement at the UN Human Rights Council, at EU meetings and through our diplomatic network. Ireland attaches importance to combating all forms of discrimination on grounds of sexual orientation or gender identity and we strongly believe that consensual, same-sex relationships should not be criminalised.

Our commitment to LGBTI rights is delivered through our engagement at international human rights fora, notably at the UN and EU, as well as through our bilateral relations, in cases we believe that this can be helpful or effective.

Ireland co-sponsored the milestone UN Human Rights Council resolution on human rights, sexual orientation and gender identity (SOGI) in 2011. This was the first time the United Nations explicitly declared that discrimination and violence on the basis of sexual orientation is in violation of international human rights norms.

In addition, Ireland identified the advancement of rights for LGBTI persons as a priority for the term of our HRC membership from 2013 to 2015. During this period we consistently highlighted discrimination against LGBTI persons and worked with other countries to ensure that this issue is now firmly embedded in the work of the HRC.

Ireland will continue to prioritise the promotion and protection of the rights of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and intersex (LGBTI) individuals, who continue to suffer disproportionate levels of violence and face systemic discrimination in many countries.