Tánaiste needs to get tough on Uganda same-sex stance

When former president Mary McAleese remarked in Scotland last month that ‘a very large number’ of Catholic priests are homosexual, the response of the Catholic Church in Ireland was that it was up to Mrs McAleese ‘to raise these matters’, but that the Church does not respond to reported comments of individuals.

Some priests supported Mrs McAleese. Our former president also revealed her research showed a significant number of male suicides in Ireland involved gay Catholics, burdened with an ambivalent contention that their sexuality was ‘evil’.

The same, passive, ‘hear-no-evil, see-no evil’ thinking is now sadly evident in our own Government. The parliament of Uganda passed a bill on Dec 20, which will broaden the criminalisation of same-sex relationships, incorporating penalties that include life in prison and the extradition of suspects from third countries, but Foreign Affairs minister Eamon Gilmore has yet to react with any vigour, determination or sense of purpose.

Ireland is not without influence and stature in Uganda. The Irish Aid programme has committed €166.25m to that country between 2010 and 2014. The Tánaiste met President Museveni last July, five months before this Bill reached parliament and the issue of homosexuality and State corruption was included on their agenda.

President Museveni is obliged to sign this legislation into law within 30 days of its passage through parliament, a period that will elapse tomorrow. Is it too much to expect the Tánaiste would be more robust and dynamic in his reaction to the bill than the Catholic Church in Ireland has been in response to the research and considered remarks of Mrs McAleese? A critical feature of the Government’s African Strategy, launched by Mr Gilmore in 2011, is to apply Irish Aid resources to lessen inequalities and enhance trust.

If this legislation were to pass in Uganda, how could Irish Aid possibly provide resources to such a country?

Myles Duffy

Glenageary

Co Dublin