Varadkar tells men-only lunch courage is needed to make future equal for all

The transport minister has told a men-only lunch at an Irish society event in the United States that courage is needed to make the future equal for all including gay and straight and male and female.

Leo Varadkar was speaking at a meal organised by the Hibernian Society in Savannah, Georgia, on St Patrick’s Day — an event boycotted by Tanaiste Eamon Gilmore last year because it is men-only.

Mr Varadkar attended the Hibernian lunch, but used his speech to tell the male audience about his vision for the future of Ireland.

Mr Varadkar told his audience that Savannah for almost two centuries had held an annual St Patrick’s Day parade and that the city had played its part in making Ireland what it is today.

However, he added: “We share a vision of the kind of Ireland we hope to see in the future — free and independent, both economically and culturally, embodying a spirit of justice, opportunity and equality on the national and international stage. Ireland as she ought to be.”

The minister went on to describe Irish people who had overcome hardships.

These included Joanna Ruth Kehoe who emigrated to America with her eight children in 1851 to escape post-famine Ireland. Four of her descendants eventually became presidents of the Hibernian Society.

Mr Varadkar also recalled Winnie Davis, president of the Women’s Irish Association, and the rebel leader, Robert Emmet: “We must remember the spirit of Robert Emmet and recognise that real change requires that we find the courage within ourselves to make our future as it ought to be — free and independent, equal and just; Catholic, Protestant; believer and non-believer; gay, straight; male, female.”

He added: “At home, our Government is pursuing an agenda of equality and reform. We are striving to ensure equality for Catholics and Protestants in the North and in the South, to amend our constitution, to modernise the way it refers to women and to grant equality to gay and lesbian citizens by 2016. It’s a tough battle. For this reason, it is important that as ministers we are consistent in what we say at home and abroad.”