Pride and Judicial Appointments Bill
Senator Warfield welcomed Dublin Pride and the work on conversion therapy, while Senator Bacik supported his remarks and sought to delay Committee Stage of the Judicial Appointments Commission Bill until the GRECO report is considered.
I second the amendment to the Order of Business proposed by Senator Devine.
I wish everyone a safe, happy and healthy Dublin Pride and encourage people to join the protest on Saturday at 2 p.m. from St. Stephen's Green south. The We are Family theme chosen for Pride this year is not a coincidence given that the World Meeting of Families will take place in Dublin this year. I commend the LGBT community on leading the way in building a new Ireland and, as global community, on leading the way in building a different world. The persecution of our brothers and sisters around the globe impacts members of the LGBT community wherever we are and causes us great stress. It also adds to fear and becomes internalised. Knowing that people are persecuted for having the same characteristics as I and others have leads to social withdrawal and causes us to identify with that persecution on a small level, although obviously not on a fatal scale. LGBT people around the world who experience violence, hate and discrimination are counting on us in Ireland to implement laws that protect individuals in being who they are. This will provide international examples of law that are effective and work. We will highlight and address these issues in this country because we can do so. I call for international solidarity. I also look forward to the launch of the LGBTI national youth strategy tomorrow by the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs, Deputy Katherine Zappone. I am hopeful that the strategy will include actions to ban conversion therapy. I am also in contact with the Minister of State, Deputy Catherine Byrne, on the issue. I ask the Leader to encourage the Government to ensure this process is completed as quickly as possible.
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I join Senator Warfield in wishing everyone a happy Pride in the week that is in it and commend him on his work on conversion therapy.
I second the motion put forward by my colleague, Senator Humphreys, seeking to adjourn Committee Stage of the Judicial Appointments Commission Bill and providing that the Seanad will not take Committee Stage until we have received and considered the unpublished report from the Council of Europe's Group of States against Corruption, GRECO. We need time to allow us to consider the Government's response, if any, to the report. As Senator Humphreys stated, it is essential that we see the text of the GRECO report and the Government's response to it in advance of our debate on the amendments to this important legislation.
I raised this matter in the House on Tuesday, as did Senator Boyhan and others who expressed concern. We are effectively being asked to legislate in the dark without sight of the Government's amendments or what it proposes to do in response to serious criticisms. GRECO has expressed significant concerns about the composition of the judicial appointment's commission, as proposed in the Bill. It also considers that the proposals represent a move that is not in line with European standards. This is a very serious critique of the proposals that are being driven through government like a speedy chariot by the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport. This is not a good way to legislate. We should be able to see the report and the Government's response. We should also be able to see what the Government proposes to do by way of amendments. We were in the dark during Second Stage when we did not have sight of any of this. On behalf of the Labour group, I have submitted 20 amendments to the Bill without prejudice. I am hopeful we will have time to be able to consider the GRECO criticisms before we debate them.