Half of Ireland’s MEPs pledge gay rights support

Just over half of Ireland’s coterie of 12 MEPs — Nessa, Proinsias, Paul, Phil, Sean, Jim and Marian — have signed the pledge to support gay rights which is doing the rounds in the European Parliament.

The pledge is promoted by British MEP Michael Cashman, formerly of the cast of Eastenders.

But it is opposed by fellow British MEP Godfrey Bloom, a member of the eurosceptic UKIP. He claims the LGBI (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual) group gets most of its funds from the EU and the Dutch government, according to a group that charts anti-Christian initiatives in the European institutions.

Mr Bloom argues equality laws put people at a disadvantage. “Any businessman with a brain would never employ a lady of childbearing years,” what with the law saying she has to get maternity leave, he says. He probably has the best interests of gays in mind too. Wonder what excuse the other five Irish MEPs have.