Today is International Day Against Homophobia, Biphobia and Transphobia, or IDAHOBIT, which rolls nicely off the tongue. I am very lucky that I can stand up as a bicycle queer Member of our national Parliament and know there will only be a few knuckle-draggers going on about it online. However, I have a really great filter and will probably not see most of it, so they are really screaming into the void. I am really lucky that I can stand up here and I am really proud to be able to do that. We have a rainbow caucus.

Ireland has led the way in terms of LGBTQ rights, whether it comes to marriage equality, gender recognition, and all of these things we really pride ourselves on. I do not think we can fool and convince ourselves that all is well in the world. Only today, there is a video flying around online of a young secondary school student getting quite viciously beaten up by a group. It is presumed it is because he is a member of the LGBT community. The facts have yet to be fully established but that is what is believed. The school is very easily identifiable online and I hope that the full force of the school's disciple system is utilised. I hope that An Garda Síochána takes this attack extremely seriously because it was really very vicious.

It is extremely upsetting to know that today in 2023 in Ireland and on the International Day Against Homophobia, Biphobia and Transphobia, we still have young, out, visibly queer students being beaten up for who they are. It is really upsetting. The whole point of this day is to draw attention to the violence and discrimination experienced by the LGBT community. We know only in the past year that we had the double murder, potentially motivated by homophobia, of Aidan Moffitt and Michael Snee. We know we still need to do more on conversion therapy, parental rights, and societal change, which is one of the really big things when we look at what happened potentially to that young boy who was beaten up.

We have to recognise the LGBT community, which is my community and that of friends and family, is under global attack. We cannot pretend it is not also happening here. This roll-back is being targeted or pushed by the far right, by media, and by an increasingly radicalised cohort hell-bent on demonising the trans community who simply want to be able to live their authentic lives and truth. It is really important on the International Day Against Homophobia, Biphobia and Transphobia that, whether a person is trans, cis, straight or queer, it is up to every person to speak up against hate. The fight for equality is not over globally but it is certainly also not over in Ireland.

I start by echoing the comments of Senator Hoey on the disgraceful attack on that student. It should not have taken place anyway but the fact that it seems to be motivated by homophobia, makes it even worse. I certainly hope the school concerned and An Garda Síochána will take strong action.

This Government has a very proud record with regard to support for the arts. We have seen a significant increase in Arts Council funding and the introduction of the basic income scheme for artists. There are commitments towards very significant developments in the national cultural institutions, at the National Concert Hall and, indeed, at the Abbey Theatre. I would go so far as to say that the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media, Deputy Catherine Martin, will be shown to be perhaps the greatest Minister for the arts in modern times because of what she has achieved. For us, we all know the importance of cultural tourism and the importance of the arts within our own communities. I raised this at the Joint Committee on Tourism, Culture, Arts, Sport and Media last week. We need to look at developing an arts capital programme along the same lines as the sports capital programme. To be able to develop our arts infrastructure in our communities, such as our theatres, music venues, and other facilities, this is crucial. We all know the joy and the experiences the arts, music and drama bring to our communities. The next step, beyond those national levels of investment and the support that is given to professional arts organisations, is to further support community arts and, indeed, arts through our local authorities. I would like a debate on the future of the arts in Irish society with the Minister.

I also congratulate all those who won in the Young Social Innovators competition. Many of us in this House would be aware of the great work that young social innovators do. I mention two Wexford schools that were particularly successful in the programme. The students of Creagh College, Gorey, won the Fun-Raising award with their project Fash-Back, which looked at ways of fundraising to combat the problems surrounding fast fashion. There was also was the project by the students of Meánscoil Gharman, Inis Córthaidh, entitled Mannie Unmasks Masculinity, where they talked about the importance of men showing emotions. These are two very worthy and important projects and we send our congratulations to all involved in Young Social Innovators.

I concur with the comments of Senator Byrne with regard to an arts capital programme to add to the work that has been done by the Minister, Deputy Catherine Martin. I second that fantastic proposal. There has been significant investment in the arts but a programme like that would allow us to increase the infrastructure throughout the country. I support that call.

Also, with regard to the Young Social Innovators, I send congratulations to the students of Ballymahon Vocational School in Longford who were one of the winners at the awards last week.

I also welcome three transition year students from Moyne Community School in County Longford, Orla McCann, Rebecca Moorhead and Saoirse O'Toole. They are here today to look behind the scenes a little in Leinster House.

While we are speaking about schools, the social media companies were invited to appear before the Joint Committee on Tourism, Culture, Arts, Sport and Media, of which I am a member, to discuss the large numbers of young people using social media. Two refused and one did not even show the committee the courtesy of giving an answer. We need a discussion on this matter.

A project on mobile phones has been rolled out in a primary school in County Wicklow whereby all parents agree that no child will get a mobile telephone or iPhone prior to leaving the school and going into secondary school. I thought this was an excellent idea. I have young children who are at that age. My 11-year-old is the only child in his class who does not have a mobile telephone and is not on Instagram or Snapchat. We need to look at this issue. It is important to have a discussion in the House.

Senators will have seen recently in the media that I had issues with threats to my home. I welcome an email from the Cathaoirleach today regarding a scheme that is being brought in for Oireachtas Members based on getting a report from the Garda, which I have done. I support a call for a similar type of scheme to be made accessible to local government representatives. Many of our colleagues have offices in their local areas or in their homes. I ask that this scheme be extended to enable them to access funds to put proper security measures in place at their offices.