Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

10. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he will openly and clearly oppose any further moves towards the accession of Georgia to the European Union in light of the stringent anti-LGBT laws adopted there, referred to as the 'family values and the protection of minors' law. [38696/24]

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

The Georgian parliament’s decision to pass the ‘on family values and protection of minors’ law on 17 September contributes to the stigmatisation and discrimination of a vulnerable minority group and, as such, represents a further setback to Georgia’s EU accession path. According to UN human rights experts, the main bill, along with the 18 related amendments, violates the right to freedom of expression and freedom of assembly, in addition to codifying discrimination of people on the basis of gender identity and sexual orientation. I am deeply concerned by the passing of this legislation, especially in the context of other recently adopted laws in Georgia, including the ‘on transparency of foreign influence’ law, passed earlier this year.

The Georgian parliament’s decision to pass this legislation reflects a deeply concerning global trend of pushback on LGBTQI+ rights. Within this environment of increasing pushback, the promotion and protection of the rights of LGBTQI+ persons remains a domestic and foreign policy priority for Ireland. The universal nature of human rights can only be fulfilled when they apply fully and equally to all people, irrespective of gender identity, sexual orientation, or any other protected characteristic. Ireland avails of every opportunity to reaffirm our commitment to the rights of LGBTQI+ persons, including by strongly supporting efforts in international human rights fora, such as the UN Human Rights Council and the UN General Assembly, to promote and protect the rights of LGBTQI+ persons.

I made clear at the June Foreign Affairs Council that the current political trajectory and democratic backsliding in Georgia is incompatible with the EU aspirations of the overwhelming majority of the Georgian people. Georgia’s accession process is de-facto halted while these laws, which directly contradict EU core values, exist in its legal code. In response to the so-called foreign agents’ law, I advocated for clear communication with the Georgian authorities regarding the impact recent developments would have on their EU reform progress. Unfortunately, the recent package of anti-LGBTQI+ legislation has demonstrated that the Georgian government is doubling down on democratic backsliding and turning towards authoritarianism. The EU and Ireland will continue to urge the Georgian government to return to its EU path, and repeal the anti-LGBTQI+ legislation along with the so-called ‘foreign agents’ law. The European Commission’s Enlargement Report, which will be published later this autumn, will provide an assessment of Georgia’s progress with regard to reforms linked to the EU accession process. Ireland will continue to highlight our concerns regarding this issue both bilaterally and at EU and multilateral level, and to underline that the EU accession process is merit-based, and that Georgia cannot progress further unless the government changes course.