Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire (Cork South Central, Sinn Fein)
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63. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the timeframe for the publication of the LGBT inclusion strategy announced by his Department; the details of the strategy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5564/18]

David Stanton (Cork East, Fine Gael)
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Like all sides of the House, I want to build on Ireland’s favourable record in LGBTI equality matters in recent years and to harness momentum from the Marriage Equality Campaign.

Some preliminary work has commenced in my Department in relation to the development of a National LGBTI Strategy but I do not have an indicative timescale yet.

Officials of my Department are currently working with colleagues in other Government Departments on related matters: the review of the Gender Recognition Act under Minister Doherty and the development of the National Youth LGBTI Strategy under Minister Zappone.

I anticipate work on the LGBTI strategy will commence before either of these processes is finalised. It is obviously important to take cognisance of these deliberations and processes and the learning from them will inform the Strategy. It is particularly important that the National LGBTI Strategy should dovetail with the National Youth LGBTI Strategy.

I have, of course, been involved in the development of and the chairing of a number of other strategies in the equality area and I want to reflect on that experience and to consider the best way to approach the this particular task because it raises different issues.

I am strongly committed to this programme of work and looking forward to it so I have decided to personally oversee the strategy development process. 

We are in a new space following the historic 2015 Marriage Equality referendum.  It is important that the strategy should build on that ground-breaking achievement and provide an effective framework for action to advance equality for LGBTI persons in the years ahead.  

Officials in the Department will shortly begin the process of engaging with NGOs to start a preliminary consultation process.