Fine Gael MEP Maria Walsh has welcomed the Government’s decision to introduce a scheme to overturn historic convictions for same-sex relations.
The scheme will allow gay and bisexual men convicted under former laws criminalising consensual sex between adult men to have those convictions formally erased.
MEP Walsh was part of the Fine Gael LGBTQ+ Network which campaigned for the scheme to be included in the Programme for Government and has said the decision recognises the harm caused by Ireland’s past legislation.
MEP Walsh is also Co-Chair of the European Parliament’s LGBTQI+ Intergroup, which promotes equality and fundamental rights across the European Union.
MEP Maria Walsh said:
“Up until relatively recently, gay and bisexual men were criminalised for the simple act of loving another man. Consensual sex between adult men was illegal until1993 – within the lifetime of people in their 30s and 40s today. Men were investigated, prosecuted and in some cases imprisoned simply for loving another person.
“Many men in Irish society still bear the scars of our shameful past. This shame does not belong to the Irish man who loved another man. The shame falls solely on the Irish state who turned its back on its citizens and retained homophobic and outdated laws for far too long.
“I warmly welcome the Government’s decision to establish the scheme, which builds on equality progress spearheaded by Fine Gael over the past decade. This is about dignity. It is about recognising that people were wronged and that the State has a responsibility to put that right.
“I am proud to have worked within the Fine Gael LGBTQ+ Network to secure the inclusion of this measure in the Programme for Government, and I want to acknowledge the leadership of former Taoiseach Leo Varadkar whose perseverance helped make this possible.
“However, as an MEP, I have to share that while we are making progress in Ireland, rights for the LGBTQI+ community in other parts of the EU are being revoked. This week in Hungary, for the first time in the history of the European Union, an individual has been criminally prosecuted for organising a Pride march.
“Our history shows how fragile rights can be. Justice in Ireland must strengthen our determination to defend equality everywhere.”