Barry Ward (Dún Laoghaire, Fine Gael)
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185. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if his attention has been drawn to the sustained attacks on the LGBBTQ+ community in Uganda; the actions he will take to address this at an international level; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29604/25]

Neale Richmond (Dublin Rathdown, Fine Gael)
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The promotion and protection of human rights is a foreign policy priority for the Government. LGBTI+ people continue to suffer disproportionate levels of violence and face discrimination in many countries across the world, and we have been active in highlighting and advocating for their rights. The Government condemned the passing by the Ugandan parliament and the signing into law of the ‘Anti-Homosexuality Act’ in 2023. Since then, our concerns about the impact of this legislation have been raised during high-level visits to Uganda and in all our engagement with high level officials from Uganda visiting Ireland. We have also raised these concerns within the European Union and our response is being undertaken in cooperation with other like-minded states. Our Embassy in Kampala will continue to work actively on the promotion and protection of human rights and to make it clear that all individuals must be treated with dignity and respect.

In line with our commitment to reaching the furthest-behind-first, Ireland’s development cooperation in Uganda seeks to support and protect civil society space, with a focus on human rights, including the rights of minorities. Through our wider development cooperation programme, Irish Aid is providing support for LGBTQI+ people, and for civil society organisations and human rights defenders. In the face of substantial cuts to development cooperation by a number of other countries, I have made it very clear that Ireland remains steadfast in our commitment to international development, and to the promotion and protection of human rights globally.