Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 22 November 2022
91. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he has made any public statement or had any communication with Qatar authorities regarding LGBTQ+ rights for visitors to the World Cup games underway at present; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [57820/22]
View answerThe Qatari government has maintained that ‘all fans will be welcome’ at the World Cup, and I urge for this promise to be upheld.
I was very disappointed by the recent comments of a Qatari World Cup ambassador, which referred to homosexuality as ‘damage in the mind’. These comments are not reflective of the inclusive and global event that a World Cup should be for the fans travelling to it. I call for the Qatari government to fulfil its promise to the international community that all fans will be welcome in Qatar, and treated with dignity and respect.
Promoting respect for human rights is one of the core principles of Ireland’s foreign policy. In countries where we have concerns over human rights, including Qatar, we raise these concerns very clearly, both in direct contacts with the government of that country, and in the appropriate international fora. Officials from the Department of Foreign Affairs regularly raise concerns bilaterally with the Qatari authorities.
Ireland regularly discusses these issues in various EU forums and works closely with other member states to ensure human rights issues in Qatar are addressed. Since 2018, the EU has held four formal Human Rights Dialogues with Qatar, including most recently on 13 September in Brussels, where the EU underscored the importance of safety of LGBTQ+ persons in the context of the World Cup.
