Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 23 October 2018
185. Deputy Niall Collins asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the reason the public consultation paper on Ireland's international development policy makes no reference to LGBT issues; if he will review this in view of the ongoing discriminatory and violent treatment of the LGBT community in particular countries; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43343/18]
View answerThe promotion and protection of human rights is at the heart of Irish foreign policy. The 2015 foreign policy review, Global Island Ireland’s foreign policy for a changing world, recognises that human rights violations undermine development. Global Island commits the Department to promote and protect those who face persecution for defending human rights, with an explicit commitment to the promotion of the rights of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and intersex (LGBTI) individuals. This is a recognition that LGBTI people frequently suffer disproportionately from violence and, in many countries, face systemic discrimination.
Global Island provides the overall foreign policy frame for the recent public consultation paper on international development, part of the process towards a new policy on international development. That public consultation paper reiterated Ireland’s commitment to upholding human rights, within the foreign policy context provided by Global Island and Ireland’s international development actions.
As part of the contextual analysis underpinning the new development policy, threats to civil society space and the role of human rights activists are identified, as is the importance of respect for human rights: this includes LGBTI community rights. The public consultation paper also highlights that our new international development policy will be informed by recent Irish experience in bringing greater equality for minorities in society.
The rights of all minorities, including those of the LGBTI community, and shrinking civil society space were raised at recent public meetings held to discuss the consultation paper, and in written submissions. These issues will be taken into consideration in the final drafting of the new policy which will aim to ensure coherence in our approach at international and country levels.
