The Sunday Independent's View: Ireland can take Pride in progress on gay rights
The watered-down statement that eventually emerged deplored the 'catastrophic humanitarian situation' and called again for a ceasefire.
But with hundreds of Palestinians now being killed as they seek aid, Taoiseach Micheál Martin lamented that more was not being done to put pressure on Benjamin Netanyahu's government.
There is, however, one issue on which Ireland has undoubtedly led the way. When he took his place on O'Connell Street at the head of yesterday's Dublin Pride march, Micheál Martin did so as the leader of the first country in the world to legalise same-sex marriage by popular vote.
The 2015 referendum was carried by 62pc of voters. Ten years on, the likelihood is that the Yes vote would be even more emphatic.
Ireland is a far more progressive place to live than it has ever been
Irish society in past decades was always more complex and diverse than the caricature of an oppressed Catholic theocracy that persists in popular myth.
What is beyond question is that the country today, while by no means perfect, is a far more open and progressive place in which to live than it has ever been.
Dublin's first Pride march in 1983 took place when homosexuality was still illegal. The numbers taking part could be counted in the dozens.
Yesterday saw more than 12,000 participants and up to 100,000 people line the streets to show support. Other events were held around the country, including for the first time in Kilkenny, the last county to join the party.
There is no downside to these changes. Whatever else is wrong with Ireland in 2025, a tolerance of who others chose to love is not one of them.
ADVERTISEMENT
These advances must not be taken for granted. In his message to Dublin Pride, President Michael D Higgins paid tribute to all who 'paved the way for progress when marching was not safe, who gave voice to truths that were long silenced and who set the foundations for the inclusive Ireland that we continue to strive towards today'. He urged parade-goers to remember them 'with gratitude'.
There was a grim reminder this year that many countries have still not won such freedoms.
The right-wing populist government led by Viktor Orban in Hungary, a fellow member of the European Union for more than two decades, passed legislation this year banning yesterday's Budapest Pride march and has even threatened to jail organisers and use facial recognition software to identify and fine marchers.
That the right to peaceful assembly is under threat again in the heart of the EU is profoundly shocking. Pride marches are a threat to no one.
Irish politicians can take justifiable pride, pun intended, in the part they played in moving this country beyond such ugly battles.
If only they could put the same collective energy into solving more intractable challenges to inequality — such as housing, our crumbling infrastructure and health — there would be even more to celebrate.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Irish Times
an hour ago
- Irish Times
The Irish Times view on Ireland's economic position: not as good as it looks
The decision by The Economist magazine to exclude Ireland from its annual ranking of the world's richest countries is not the first time comparisons of this kind have sidelined the State's economy, Even official EU statistics now sometimes leave out Ireland, particularly when looking at trends in trade. And private sector analysts often exclude Ireland when looking at Europe-wide indicators. Should we be upset? Not really. The problem, as the Economist puts it, is that Ireland's economic data is 'polluted by tax arbitrage.' Multinationals organise their tax affairs to declare as much profit as possible in Ireland, helped by accountants who are , as the magazine said , 'as versed in the arts of surreal creativity as James Joyce.' Ireland argues, with some justification, that these companies have ' substance' here – in other words they employ people and produce goods or services from Ireland. However, the extent of the profit declared here is well in excess of what would be justified by this activity. And so, on a range of estimates, as much as half of Ireland's corporate tax take may be 'windfall' – not directly related to activity here – and our Gross Domestic Product (GDP) is very significantly inflated. Does this matter? It complicates analysis of Ireland's economy and more meaningful assessments now use other modified aggregates. Had the Economist included Ireland in its list of GDP per head, it would have been somewhere in the top half dozen countries. A more realistic measure would put Ireland in the middle of the European pack. READ MORE Unfortunately, Ireland's out-of-kilter data has created another problem. It has put the State in the spotlight internationally, including in the White House, where there has been focus on Ireland's trade surplus with the US, due almost entirely to pharma exports. The Irish GDP and trade figures may not reflect the scale of real activity here, but they do show major pharma production in Ireland for the US market and the impact of the associated aggressive tax planning. In that way, Ireland's mangled figures do still tell a real story.
Irish Independent
2 hours ago
- Irish Independent
Israel studies Hamas offer to release hostages in exchange for ceasefire and release of prisoners
Efforts to pause the fighting gained new momentum over the past week after Israel announced plans for a new offensive to seize control of Gaza City at the heart of the Palestinian enclave. Mediators Egypt and Qatar have been pushing proposals to restart indirect talks between the sides on a U.S.-backed ceasefire plan. The proposals include the release of 200 Palestinian convicts jailed in Israel and an unspecified number of imprisoned women and minors, in return for 10 living and 18 deceased hostages from Gaza, according to a Hamas official. Two Egyptian security sources confirmed the details, and added that Hamas has requested the release of hundreds of Gaza detainees as well. Israel says a total of 50 hostages remain in Gaza, 20 of them still alive. "Israel's policy is consistent and has not changed. Israel demands the release of all 50 hostages in accordance with the principles established by the cabinet for ending the war. We are in the final decisive stage of Hamas and will not leave any hostage behind," an Israeli political source said. The comment, while adamant, fell short of an outright rejection of the proposal on the table. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was expected to convene discussions about the ceasefire proposal soon, the two Israeli officials said. A response was expected in the coming two days, said a Palestinian source close to the talks. Before Hamas responded on Monday to the proposal, Netanyahu had ruled out any deal that excluded the return of all the hostages. Qatar's Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesperson Majed Al Ansari said the 60-day truce deal would include "a pathway to a comprehensive agreement to end the war." The proposal includes a partial withdrawal of Israeli forces, which presently control 75% of Gaza and the entry of more humanitarian aid into the enclave, where a population of 2.2 million people is increasingly facing famine. Israel had previously agreed to the outline, advanced by U.S. special Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff, but negotiations faltered over some of its details. The last round of talks ended in deadlock in late July. While Israel's political echelon weighed a response, Defence Minister Israel Katz met commanders late on Tuesday. Public broadcaster Kan's military correspondent Itay Blumental said on X the meeting was to approve plans to capture Gaza City. The post cited four stages to the plans: building humanitarian infrastructure in the southern Gaza Strip, evacuation of Gaza City, encirclement of Gaza City and manoeuvring into Gaza City. Thousands of people fearing an imminent Israeli ground offensive are estimated to have fled the area in the past few days for points to the west and south in the shattered territory. On the ground, there were no signs of a ceasefire nearing as Israeli gunfire, tank shelling and airstrikes killed at least 20 Palestinians on Tuesday, according to Gaza health officials. At a shelter in Khan Younis, in the south of the enclave, displaced people had mixed feelings over whether a deal would be reached this time. "I expect - every time the (Israeli) occupation would be obstinate, reject and receive proposals with negative responses - I expect the same for this proposal as well," said Abdallah Al-Khawaja. Women sat by wood fires cooking meals for their families, while men filled plastic gallons with water; many hoped Israel would approve the proposal. "What I say and expect as a member of the Palestinian people living in the Gaza Strip, one of the bereaved and displaced, is that I expect a positive response (from Israel)," said Awad Labde. ISRAELI PROTESTERS DEMAND DEAL In Israel, the threatened offensive prompted tens of thousands of Israelis on Sunday to hold some of the largest protests since the war began, urging a deal to end the fighting and free the remaining hostages held in Gaza. Netanyahu faces domestic political pressure from his far-right government partners who object to a truce with Hamas. Ministers Bezalel Smotrich and Itamar Ben-Gvir have demanded to keep the war going until Hamas' defeat, and annex Gaza. Groups representing Israeli families of those held hostage have demanded their return to Israel and an end to the war. Hamas official Izzat El-Reshiq said that the truce proposal it has agreed to is an interim accord that would pave the way for negotiations on ending the war. A source close to the talks said that, unlike previous rounds, Hamas accepted the proposal with no further demands. But prospects for agreeing an end to the war appear remote, with gaps remaining on the terms. Israel is demanding the group lay down its arms and its leaders leave Gaza, conditions which Hamas has so far publicly rejected. The war began when Hamas-led fighters stormed into Israel, killing 1,200 people and taking 251 hostages. Israel's offensive has since killed more than 62,000 Palestinians, according to local health officials who do not distinguish between fighters and non-combatants. The Israeli assault has plunged Gaza into a humanitarian crisis and displaced most of its population.
The Journal
2 hours ago
- The Journal
Gerry Adams donates €100k BBC payout to causes including Gaza, the GAA and republican prisoners
GERRY ADAMS HAS said he has made donations to 'good causes' after the BBC paid the former Sinn Fein president €100,000 in defamation damages. The broadcaster lost a defamation case earlier this year after Adams took it to court over a 2016 episode of its Spotlight programme and an accompanying online story. They contained an allegation that Adams sanctioned the killing of former Sinn Féin official Denis Donaldson. Adams denied any involvement. In May, a jury at the High Court in Dublin found in his favour and awarded him €100,000 after determining that was the meaning of words included in the programme and article. Advertisement Johnsons Solicitors, which represented Adams in his action, announced today that the BBC has discharged the order of the court in relation to the compensation to their client. A BBC spokesperson said: 'We can confirm the BBC has now paid Gerry Adams 100,000 euros in damages as required by the court.' Adams said he intended to donate any damages awarded to good causes. The law firm said donations have been made to 'Unicef for the children of Gaza', local GAA organisations, a support group for republican prisoners and their families called An Cumman Cabhrach, to the Irish language sector, to the 'homeless and Belfast based-youth, mental health and suicide prevention projects' and others. The BBC, which was found by the jury not to have acted in good faith nor in a fair and reasonable way, was also ordered to pay the former Sinn Féin leader's legal costs, potentially in the order of millions. However, it is understood the final amount of costs have yet to be determined.
