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TAOISEACH LEO VARADKAR has said that he would never consider introducing a ban on transgender people serving in the Irish Defence Forces.
Varadkar made the comment after this week’s announcement by US President Donald Trump that transgender people will no longer be allowed to serve in the US military.
In a series of tweets, Trump said he had made the decision after consultation with his generals and military experts.
He said the military cannot be “burdened with tremendous medical costs and disruption that transgender in the military would entail”.
https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump/status/890196164313833472
When asked about his views on the ban at a press briefing, Varadkar said:
On the transgender ban, it is not something I agree with. It is a domestic policy issue for the United States.
They run their defence forces, we run ours.
“It is not something I would ever consider introducing to Ireland,” he told reporters.
It is unclear how many transgender people currently serve in the Defence Forces in Ireland.
A statement from the Defence Forces said that it is “committed to the principle of equal opportunity in all its employment policies”.
The Defence Forces welcome applications from all members of Irish society, irrespective of sexual orientation or gender.
The Defence Forces launched its own LGBT network, Defend With Pride, in October 2016. It aims to provide “support, information and guidance for LGBT personnel and allies who wish to support colleagues, friends and family”.
According to a report published in 2014 on transgender military service in the US, researchers from the Williams Institute said that transgender people have a larger representation in the military than they do among the general population. Around 15,000 transgender people currently serve in the US military.
‘Resist’
Trump’s announcement was met with immediate condemnation by human rights groups and hundreds of people gathered in New York’s Times Square on Wednesday to protest at an army recruiting station. They held up signs that read ‘Resist’ and heard from speakers who denounced the ban.
[image alt="Trump-Military Transgender" src="http://cdn.thejournal.ie/media/2017/07/trump-military-transgender-3-296x218.jpg" width="296" height="218" title="" class="alignnone" /end]
US visit
Varadkar confirmed that he intends to visit the White House in March and said he would bring up issues that he and Trump may not agree on.
“I am massively sure we will touch on issues such as climate change, such as migration, where we would hold very different views on that world and how it should work,” Varadkar said.
I think the whole point of our relationship, of any relationship between two countries is that we can actually tell the truth to each other and I’ll be doing that.
He also outlined that he would “remind” Trump that 100,000 Americans are employed by Irish companies across 50 States and that “we can grow trade between the two countries without putting up additional barriers”.
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R.I.P
So tragic. RIP.
What an amazing live band, hope they continue. Condolences to family and friends
R.I.P.
I’ll have a Mass said for him and will pray for him too. God bless you and may you rest in The Lord Taidgh Burke.
RIP Tadhg. Sincere condolences to his family and friends
So sad …. Poor guy Rest in peace
So not fair, rip .
Why would anyone hit the dislike button on comments sympathising
@john was thinking the very same,I’m starting to believe it’s the journal doing all this red thumbing to stir things up . Because for the life of me I can’t understand why ppl would dislike a comment like r.i.p ?
Terry, this is absolutely not the case.
Hi Aoife Ii know it’s not and I do apologise ,I was just annoyed with the fact that there are ppl red thumbing someone writing r.i.p disgusting individuals !!!
Because they are a crowd of red-thumbing sh”ts, especially whenever religion is mentioned.
Rip Taidgh. You will be missed. Sleep well
Patrick I am asking u as a close friend of Taidhg’s, for the second time to remove ur comments and stop commenting before his Mother see’s them. Taidhg was a back seat passenger in a tragic accident. He had no intention of leaving us. I’m asking u compassionately to remove your comments and stop hurting us even more.
Pa Curran, question, is there several commentators on here with the same christian name, if so I apologise on my behalf if any offence has been committed .
Terribly sad. R.I.P.
Its an unfortunate consequence of technology that people can post comments on a public forum for the world to see, they are completely removed, both emotionally and physically from the situation, they are often commenting on something they know nothing about. Its fine to express ones point of view or opinions for some topics but for others it can be down right heartless & disrespectful. This Man was someones Son, someones Brother, someones friend. When commenting on posts like these put yourself in the families situation before you post.
Very sad. May he rest in peace.
Rip so young very sad, thoughts with his family and friends
Not necessarily so William. RIP Taidgh .
Not necessarily so ,RIP Tadgh.
Very sad, heaven has gained a bass player, , :)
Niamh, terribly sorry for your loss.
Well done on having the strength to come on here and respond in such a dignified manner to such ignorance. I can’t imagine how difficult it must have been seeing the awful things people will say, for what reason remains unknown.
When a young person dies in such tragic circumstances who was a friend, a son, a brother and clearly by your comment a much loved and respected individual it isn’t too much to ask that it might provoke a little more sympathy and mindfulness in people rather than being being so distasteful, rash and disrespectful.
Well said again.
His poor family . Sincere condolences. His mam sounds like a true angel donating his organs and thinking of others in this hard time.
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