More progress needed on equality legislation – McAuliffe

Fianna Fáil Group Leader on Dublin City Council Paul McAuliffe has called on the Government to publish the Children and Family Relationships Bill 2014 before the Dáil summer recess.  The call comes as thousands of people take part in the Dublin Pride parade this afternoon celebrating lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender (LGBT) life.

Cllr. McAuliffe commented, “The Dáil will rise for the summer in less than three weeks and I’m urging Minister Fitzgerald to publish this long awaited legislation before then.  It was first proposed in 2012, and while the general scheme of the Bill has been published, I fear other issues within the Department of Justice could see it pushed down the agenda.

“The legislation should be published before the summer break to allow the opposition, lobby groups and interested parties time to bring forward changes or amendments to approve the draft law.  Time is also needed to allow the Oireachtas Justice Committee hold hearings on any amendment proposals.  There’s no political impediment to the draft law, with all parties in the Oireachtas broadly in support of the legislation, and I’m calling on the Minister to publish it without delay.

“As a republican party, Fianna Fáil is committed to fighting discrimination in all forms and ensuring all individuals are treated equally under the law?. Pride is a celebration of that republican ideal and as the leader of the Fianna Fail Group on Dublin City Council, I’m delighted to have been asked to march alongside other Councillors, Ógra members and party supporters.

“Pride has grown from a one day event in 1983 to a to a ten-day festival, incorporating the second biggest parade in the country.  It has become one of Dublin’s most important social and cultural celebrations attracting people from all over the world and on behalf of all my colleagues I wish the organisers and participants well for the duration of the festival.”