Taoiseach would endorse openly gay FF election candidates

TAOISEACH Bertie Ahern says he would be “very happy” for Fianna Fáil to field openly gay candidates at the next general election.

The move was welcomed by gay rights campaigners and could help lift one of the final taboos in Irish political life.

Despite British PM Tony Blair’s cabinet at one point containing four gay ministers, independent Senator David Norris is the only openly gay member of the Oireachtas.