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TAOISEACH LEO VARADKAR has said same-sex marriage should be allowed in Northern Ireland.
Going off script during a speech on the Good Friday Agreement at the Library of Congress in Washington DC, Varadkar said Ireland is a changed place.
He told the packed auditorium that he was happy to take part in the Pride events in Belfast last year.
Varadkar said the largest parade in Belfast was neither “orange or green – but rainbow coloured” where Protestants and Catholics marched together.
“That is why, it seems so strange to me that in Northern Ireland … marriage equality is not a reality, it is not allowed,” he said.
“For me any rights of freedom that the British have in Britain, that the Irish have in Ireland, the people in Northern Ireland should have as well,” said Varadkar, with the comments resulting in a rapturous applause.
Sinn Féin has said that the issue of marriage equality is one of the sticking points holding up the re-establishment of the institutions in Northern Ireland. The DUP will not move on the issue.
Sinn Féin leader Mary Lou McDonald said last month that when a deal for power-sharing was on the table, marriage equality was not included in the so-called “draft” agreement.
Speaking at the event in Washington, McDonald said the people in Northern Ireland should have freedom of equality – and this should include marriage equality.
Deputy leader Michelle O’Neill told reporters they need to deal with the issues that are causing the impasse in the North, adding that the people in Northern Ireland should not have their rights denied.
TheJournal.ie’s political reporter Christina Finn will be bringing you all the latest updates from Leo Varadkar’s visit to Washington this week, including his meeting with US President Donald Trump on Thursday.
Stay up-to-date by following @ChristinaFinn8, @TJ_Politics and TheJournal.ie’s Facebook page.
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Pity he’s not as passionate about the chronic homeless and health crisis in his own country instead of sticking his beak in the affairs of Northern Ireland.
@David Sinclair: I’m sure he is but he lacks the creativity to solve it.
@David Sinclair: What makes you say he’s not passionate about it?
@Pat Bateman: His answers to questions and solutions to the issue makes us think that.
eg: “Homeless in Ireland is quite low compared to other developed nations” – which was proved false.
Or when he opened a new ‘social housing’ estate where the prices started at 340k.
Those kind of things make us think that.
@Andy K: So if someone wasn’t passionate about something, why would they increase the budget for it by 46%? Surely increasing expenditure will improve the situation?
@David Sinclair: That would mean raising taxes. a definite no no if your a FG’er
@Pat Bateman: Passionate about something and throwing a little more money at a problem are 2 different things.
And this is happening very late. It was an issue for a number of years. And ‘asking people not to talk about it as it damages Ireland’s international reputation’ is very far from being passionate about it.
This scrap of money will not change much. The rental crisis is still a reality the homeless numbers are the highest ever in the republic. And we are having lie after lie thrown at us. That is not being passionate about it. It is the opposite.
@David Sinclair: “In his own country”? Cop yourself on you partitionist bollocks.
@Tír Eoghain Gael:
I’m a Republican socialist. Leo’s a member of Fine Gael, the party who turned their back on our Northern Irish brothers and has more in common with the British Tory party than the nationalist cause. He’s only interested in gay people in the 6 counties.
@Tír Eoghain Gael: would you ever stop rising to these muppets?
He needs to move on , and deal with the real issues. It’s time to park that gay agenda bus !
@Sean Mc Grath: it is one of many issues. There’s no such thing as a gay agenda.
@Seán Ó Briain:
Here’s a more in depth analysis of Leo’s speech, quite a substantive one at that.
That the author could only lift a minor remark about gay politics from such a lengthy contribution could arguably be interpreted as being indicative of a gay agenda.
Interestingly enough the Taoiseach attempted to reassure Unionists that he had no hidden agenda regards the North talks then betrays his motives by arguing for same sex marriage in another jurisdiction.
Perhaps he meant his agenda is open and transparent as opposed to hidden.
@Sean Mc Grath: What’s this “gay agenda” you speak of?
@David Sinclair: yeah, shock horror, he said there was no hidden agenda then spoke openly about one of the issues that the sides can’t agree on. Does the fact that he’s gay mean he should never talk publicly about anything to do with it? It is amusing that he said no hidden agenda and then you suggest it’s not true based on something he said openly in a speech to a room full of reporters and the public.
@Dave O Keeffe: no, the fact that David Sinclair is a catholic fundamentalist means people are not allowed to discuss issues the church does not like, especially a gay Irish politician.
@Paul Fahey:
I’m not Catholic but have a strong interest in religion. Leo’s entitled to free speech but I’m also entitled to see through the spin.
@Sean Mc Grath: Seems some people are still not over the SSM referendum….
Oh would you just p&&& off leo.
There is other bigger issues.
The homeless crisis
The hospital crisis.
The suicide crisis.
We have equality in the Republic.
We’ve done the whole “Wow aren’t we a great country for diversity” thing.
Get on with solving the real problems.
that’s Mrs Mays job leo!
@Danny E: má cabhraíonn sé le daoine sa Tuaisceart beidh siad níos mó sásta chun bheith aontaithe linn
@Danny E: except it’s not.
Be a bit more worried about hard boarder Leo. This goes Pear shaped equality will be the last thing on anybody’s mind.
Well said Leo. A colouful but poignant metaphor. It is time for N.I. to escape from the crutches of a religious ideology and grasp the nettle of a modern secular State respecting all religious freedoms while at the same time ensuring personal freedom of choice. Fraternite, Egalite, Liberte n’est pas?
@gregory:
Great Gregary, now go over to London and tell that to the Conservative and Unionist party.
Trump going to have some fun with this muppet
He should be told to mind his own business
Marriage Equality is the name of a lobby group. Same-sex marriage is the heading you’re looking for.
@JMac: it’s the same thing mate. The lobby group used it to highlight the issue not the other way around.
It’s the last Equality barrier in NI, ‘marriage’ for same-sex couples is not equal to heterosexual marriage as defined in Ireland or UK, and does not offer same legal protection.
Here we go again! Leo gets knocked on the head no matter what he says…. He was merely using this as an example of equality and moving forward….. there will be white blackbirds before DUP will move on that…..
Is iontach an Taoiseach é – Ní amháin do dhaoine aeracha ach gach duine
@Séan Ó Nuanáin: Ni aontaim leat
Damn, this guy is hitting all the right notes in the past few months. Refreshing to see after years of limp leadership.
@Fergus Fring: im hoping ur comment contained some sarcasm
@Slim Browne: me to
@Steve McMahon: you to where?
I think the point is that the DUP and their allies are happy to accept the protection and law of the UK where it suits them but feel free to opt out when it does not.I know this has always been the case but that does not make it right .I think “cherry picking” is the phrase in vogue.Seems odd that Westminster will be exercising direct rule yet not all Westminster law will apply.I say this as a UK citizen who has always been perplexed by this paradox.
Well done Leo, brilliant stuff
@Pat Bateman: It’s ironic that SF who raised this civil rights issue and well as others as obstacle to “re-establishment of Northern Ireland Institutions” for months after months after months ,were all the time critisised by FG Government& commentators on social media re delays.
Now when Taoiseach RIGHTLY highlighting gay civil rights issues like SF doing for a long time re Northern Ireland,you praise him and call it ” brilliant stuff”,bit hypocritical isn’t it?
I note that Mr Adams at that same occasion welcomed the US Administration commitment to sending a Northern Ireland Special Envoy which Taoiseach earlier had rejected that idea!
It doesn’t make sence that SF who are trying to get civil rights issues &full implementation of GFA highlighted as part of negotiations to re-establish Northern Ireland Institutions is banned from being invited to meet Trump because the other main party won’t agree!Adams said agreement had been reached in good faith by both sides re negotiations but later dismissed by the other wider main party.How is that SFs fault?Both the Irish Government &UK Government got copies of same.So Taoiseach should have put politics aside & informed Trump Administration through advisers of the facts I’ve described above!
Starving children are not into rainbows
Leo has no right to interfere with the politics of another Country.
It’s time for him to go!
Protect the 8th Amendment
The Canadians can look after themselves.
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