GLEN ~ Gay and Lesbian Equality Network
Fumbally Court, Fumbally Lane, Dublin 8, Tel: +353 1 4730563, Fax: +353 1 4546663
E-Mail: [email protected] Web: www.glen.ie
Speech by Kieran Rose, Chair of GLEN, at Launch of GLEN’s 2006 Annual
Report by Brian Lenihan TD, Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform
Royal College of Physicians, 4th December 2007
Thank you. I want to extend a warm welcome to you all. We are delighted to welcome
such a large number of our elected representatives, TDs, Senators and Councillors from
all political parties. I would particularly like to welcome Brian Lenihan TD, Minister for
Justice, Equality and Law Reform to launch the GLEN 2006 annual report: Diversity
Powering Success.
This has been a time of great achievement for GLEN and significant progress for
lesbian, gay and bisexual people in critical areas of our lives which are outlined in the
report. This includes major progress on law reform, education, workplace and economic
development, community safety and in community development and empowerment. All
this reflects the broad concerns that lesbian and gay men have and the GLEN agenda
for change.
Some of the main highlights of 2006, which are set out in the report, have been the
Taoiseach’s launch of GLEN’s programme, the report of the Colley Group on which
GLEN was centrally involved, bilaterals between GLEN and Government departments
facilitated by the Department of Justice Equality and Law Reform and the introduction by
the Labour Party of its Civil Union Bill which drew directly from the Colley Group
recommendations. Significant progress has been achieved from this work and the
foundations laid for future progress.
In all of this I would like to thank the great team in GLEN, the full-time staff and our
voluntary Board. I would like to thank our funders: the Atlantic Philanthropies, the
Government, through the Departments of Justice, Equality and Law Reform and Health
and through the HSE. And thanks also to all those we have worked with: political parties,
Government departments and state agencies, NGOs, the media and lesbian gay and
bisexual groups. And finally a special thanks to our staff and PCC who produced this
report. It is admirably readable, brief and concise.
There are many challenges ahead (particularly in making education safe and secure for
all) but the key legal barrier for us now is the lack of legal recognition of our intimate
relationships. This results in couples being in very vulnerable situations where lack of
legal recognition can and has led to separation and loss. I would like to highlight two
areas of particular vulnerability
First is the growing number of people, especially lesbian couples who are parenting
children but are very concerned about the lack of any means of establishing a joint legal
connection and responsibility for their child.
Second is the growing issue of the legal status of the non-EU partners of Irish lesbian
and gay people who are not entitled to live and work here with their partner. This issue
had been addressed in Administrative Procedures in the UK, even before the enactment
of Civil Partnership and we would urge the Minister to do likewise to address the very
pressing difficulties faced by many couples in these situations.
As regards the broader issue of overall legislation, GLEN is seeking civil marriage as it is
the full equality outcome. We strongly supported the Labour Party Civil Union Bill as a
major step forward providing for all the rights and obligations of marriage, though not the
Constitutional protection afforded to marriage.
We are delighted that Government is now committed to introducing a Heads of Bill by
March as this is an urgent issue for many people.
I would like to pay tribute to our legislators, including Senator David Norris, for their cooperation and support. I am also delighted to see Anne Colley here today, whose
Working Group has made such a major contribution to clarifying the issues and
informing the debate, discussion and progress we have made. It is also good to see
senior representatives from the Gardaí today.
As regard the contents of the Government’s Bill, we are looking for an equivalence of
rights and responsibilities as recommended by the Colley Group that will include
parenting, residency and work status and other issues of immediate and pressing
concern to lesbian and gay couples.
These issues have been examined thoroughly by Colley, the Joint Oireachtas
Committee on the Constitution and the Law Reform Commission. There has been
national dialogue and growing consensus for equality based change. And here I would
like to pay tribute to Katherine Zappone and Anne Louise Gilligan for their significant
contribution to this dialogue, in particular their hugely positive presence in the media.
Equality based law reform will allow everyone to get on with their lives and their
relationships of mutual care.
The Taoiseach has spoken of the critical psychological milestones in the development of
a more confident, open and dynamic Ireland. Achievement of civil marriage or civil
partnership would be another such critical psychological milestone in the journey of
modern Ireland – similar to 1993 gay law reform and subsequent equality legislation.
As the Taoiseach noted when he launched GLEN’s work programme in 2006 “All
citizens, regardless of sexual orientation stand equal in the eyes of the law. Sexual
orientation cannot and must not be the basis of a second class citizenship. Our laws
have changed and will continue to change to reflect this principle”.
Anyone who was in the Dáil and Seanad for the debates in 1993 will agree that the
sense from our legislators was that they were celebrating a national achievement with
delight.
I suggest that the introduction of a similarly ambitious law reform would meet with the
same universal acclaim and sense of achievement.
I would like to conclude with a quote from Mervyn Taylor, the Minister for Equality and
Law Reform in the 1993 debate:
“What could be more important for us as legislators than to create a climate and space
where two people who have chosen each other can express their love”
Again, thank you for coming here today and for your support.
We are delighted and honoured to have the Minister here with us to launch the GLEN
Annual Report. I would like you to give a warm welcome to the Minister for Justice
Equality and Law Reform, Brian Lenihan, TD.
ENDS