Lyons says ministers should not participate in NY parade

Irish ministers should not march in the New York St Patrick's Day parade "on principle" if invited, Labour TD John Lyons has said.

Mr Lyons, who spoke out in the Dáil last night about his experiences as a gay man, added that no Government minister should march in the event because of the exclusion of gay and lesbian groups.

Speaking during an interview with Ryan Tubridy on 2FM this morning, Mr Lyons cited a previous occasion where Tánaiste Eamon Gilmore had refused to attend an event in the US on the basis that women were precluded from attending.

“I can’t speak for the Tánaiste. But, if the Tánaiste can hear what I believe in, (and) given where the Tánaiste stands on these things that if he is the person who is to go to New York that he should not (march) on principle because other people like myself are not allowed to march.”

Mr Lyons added that he believed that no Government minister should participate. “No minister should march on St Patrick’s Day in the New York parade given that gay and lesbian people are not allowed to march in that particular parade,” he said.

Mr Lyons’ comments come a day after the Taoiseach and Mr Gilmore both said they would not follow the lead of the new Mayor of New York Bill de Blasio who said he would boycott the parade over the ban.

Mr Gilmore, who is travelling to Paris for St Patrick’s Day, told The Irish Times he took part in the part in the St Patrick’s Day Parade in 2011.

“My views on these issues are well known. I believe these parades should be inclusive. I think it is perhaps time that the organisers had another look at the whole issue of inclusion in these parades,” he said.

"The mayor made it very clear it was a personal decision. This is a long-standing parade and it is very much part of the St Patrick's Day events. The Irish Government has always been represented at it and that should continue this year."