I welcome the opportunity to raise this important matter with the Minister. The Sisters of Mercy recently commissioned a very valuable report on the experiences of marginalised groups in the west. The results of this survey are of grave concern to all who are interested in promoting equality and justice in society.
The survey underlines that the fight for equality for all citizens is very much a live issue. The Labour Party fully supports the fight for equality. In the previous Government we ensured that equal status and employment equality legislation were brought through the Oireachtas. Unfortunately, this legislation was ruled unconstitutional by the Supreme Court. Since then, we have waited more than 18 months for this Government to reintroduce the Equal Status Bill. The Labour Party has published its own Private Members' Bill which overcomes the flaws identified in the Supreme Court, yet there is still no sign of a Government Bill on this issue.
That legislation is needed to protect the rights of people is underlined by the results of the Sisters of Mercy survey which demonstrates that travellers, refugees, asylum seekers, gay and lesbian people and those living in poverty continue to be stigmatised and marginalised.
One of the most frightening findings of the report is that gay and lesbian people are seriously concerned about homophobia in the west, and many have to live with the constant threat of violence. Recent events in Sligo underline the reality of this fear. Robert Drake is an American writer who moved to Sligo at the end of last year. He is a young, gay American man who has a great love for Ireland, its literature and its people. Robert Drake was viciously attacked and is currently in a coma in Beaumont Hospital, Dublin. His vision of Ireland as a welcoming country was brutally shattered by the violent assault he suffered in Sligo.
Robert Drake may not recover from this vicious attack. His friends are attempting to raise $10,000 to fly him home so that he can receive treatment and care among his family and friends. The Minister should make a contribution to the fund established to assist Robert Drake and I hope he will indicate his willingness to do so in his reply.
The tragic case of Robert Drake only serves to underline how precarious civil and human rights can be when confronted by prejudice and ignorance. Unfortunately, prejudice is alive and well in Irish society and many people still suffer from abuse and discrimination because of the colour of their skin, their sexual orientation or the disability with which they live.
I have been critical of the Government's efforts in addressing the equality agenda and in promoting a pluralist society in Ireland. Since the abolition of the Department of Equality and Law Reform, this agenda has slipped down the Government's programme. The difficulties experienced by thousands of Irish people remain. The threat of violence, the lack of respect and the feelings of isolation and exclusion are real issues that confront people every day.
The Government has an obligation to show leadership on these issues. Equal status legislation must be introduced. Community based projects that tackle prejudice and ignorance must be funded and supported by Government. The results of the recent survey by the Sisters of Mercy should act as a wake-up call to the Minister and the Government. The tardy and half-hearted approach to the equality agenda can no longer be the hallmark of this Government's term in office. The issues are too serious for that to continue.
