Taoiseach's Dublin speech reflects on years of progress at Pride parade, ahead of Cork festival

Taoiseach Micheál Martin has said the global "trends" of increased harassment and persecution of LGBTIQ+ people around the world, are not the vision that Ireland strives to build.

Mr Martin was speaking at Dublin Pride Parade today, which saw 12,500 people marching through the streets of Dublin, including members of the LBGTQ+ community, along with their families and friends. The Cork pride festival will take place at the end of July.

Mr Martin said:

“While we welcome the progress that these initiatives have brought to Ireland, I am aware that our work is far from done.

“LGBTIQ+ people in Ireland today still face myriad challenges, and the Government is committed to bolstering our efforts to address these challenges and delivering for our LGBTIQ+ citizens.

“There are global trends of increased harassment and persecution of LGBTIQ+ people across the world, which make many of our LGBTIQ+ citizens feel deeply concerned and unsafe.

“This is not the vision for Ireland that we are striving to build.” 

Mr Martin added that the goal is to build a society in which LGBTIQ+ people can live safe, inclusive, healthy and fulfilling lives in an accepting and compassionate Ireland.

He continued:

“The new LGBTIQ+ Inclusion Strategy will promote and respect the right of LGBTIQ+ people to live their lives safely, free of harassment and violence.

“It will advance health and wellbeing outcomes through improved investment and access to a range of health services.

“It will build on initiatives already undertaken within the business community and by employers so that LGBTIQ+ people are enabled to participate fully within the workplace.” 

Also during his speech, Mr Martin reflected back on the last ten years and progress made since 2015, the year Ireland passed the Marriage Equality Referendum.

“Since 2015, the Government has sought to further advance LGBTIQ+ equality and inclusion through the LGBTI+ National Youth Strategy, the first of its kind anywhere in the world, and the National LGBTI+ Inclusion Strategy.

“While we must always continue to work hard in our fight for equality, it is important to note how far we’ve come and everything that has been achieved through these Strategies.

“With regards to legislation, last year the Criminal Justice (Hate Offences) Act came into effect.

“This Act is an exceptionally significant piece of legislation and will help support our Gardaí in prosecuting and securing convictions for hate crimes which, regrettably, members of the LGBTIQ+ community can be victims of.”