"Headbanger" Booted from Dublin to Brussels Good News for Irish Gays, But Not for Europe By Diane Bailey for The Pink Paper, London, 7th January 1993 As submitted A right-winger, described by an Member of the European Parliament as an "headbanger", became responsible for European social and employment affairs this week. But the vacancy he left in Dublin may open the way to the legalisation of gay sex in Ireland. Mr Padraig Flynn was nominated as a European Commissioner from Ireland two days before Christmas, and sworn in on Wednesday of this week. By a decision of the other commissioners his responsibilities are for the influential DG5 - which also covers questions linked to Immigration, Internal and Judicial Affairs. Responsibilities including many crucial concerns for lesbians and gay men, including employment and social rights, equal pay and pensions, refugee and immigration issues, are now in unsympathetic hands. Since February 1992 Mr Flynn had been Minister for Justice for the Republic of Ireland. His department was therefore the one responsible for dealing with the long overdue decriminalisation of homosexuality in that country - the only member state of the EC still afflicted by such laws. Upon his being appointed Minister in that department the Government's stance on reform changed from "it is being dealt with and will be presented in due course." To Susie Byrne, spokesperson for the Gay and Lesbian Equality Network in Dublin, and political correspondent for the Irish monthly Gay Community News, he said: "Although it is not top of the list of priorities, it does not mean that it is off the agenda." Then, in May, the Irish government's representative told the Council of Europe that legislation to decriminalise gay male sex would be introduced by the end of 1992. He was immediately contradicted by the leader of his party at home, who said "It is not on our list of priorities." There has followed a period of unprecedented pressure and interest in political and media circles, by Irish standards, on lesbian and gay subjects. And Padraig Flynn has been at the centre of that controversy. "He's what we term in a Ireland a 'cute whore'," says Ms Byrne. "He'd talk the hind legs off a donkey and tries to charm all women journalists. Slimy and greasy would be my description." Negotiations are still going on in Dublin to form a new government after the recent general election which saw a considerable rise in support for the Labour party. The former, Fianna Fail (Irish Republican Party) led, government is still in power in a caretaker capacity but it consulted the other parties on the selection of the new Commissioner. Flynn's appointment helps in forming the new government by making a place in the cabinet for a Labour member. Since Labour, which has never been in power in Ireland before, have been pledged since 1973 to lesbian and gay reform, the Ministry of Justice would be a useful office for them to have. "His departure means that the conservative, back-slapping, parish pump politics that Padraig Flynn represents is being diminished here," is Ms Byrne's assessment. "His wife is a prominent 'family interests' supporter, and Mr Flynn's own political attitude to women has been poor. When he made a derogatory remark about Mary Robinson, as a woman, immediately before the election for President, he probably became a major factor in why so many women went out and voted for her, and many men too. "He put his foot in it all the time. "He was seen as very repressive and conservative in his social attitudes, towards divorce and abortion as well as homosexuality. But when he took office as Minister for Justice he declared that he was a changed character; that, although he did not agree with these activites he did understand compassion was needed in these areas, and that they would have to be dealt with. They were not." His predecessor at Social Affairs in the EC Commission, Vasso Papandreou, the only woman Commissioner, was a progressive radical on many subjects, especially those which connected with women's issues. Lisa Power, who dealt with her personally on lesbian and gay issues, described her as "extremely helpful." When the International Lesbian and Gay Association (ILGA) requested a meeting, Papandreou met with a delegation and herself proposed funding a study of legal discrimination against lesbians and gays in the EC, which is currently nearing completion. Anita Pollack, Labour member of the European Parliament for London South-West, told The Pink Paper that she feared Padraig Flynn would be an "utter disaster" as a Commissioner. "He seems to be a head-banger, an extreme right-winger, who won't bring up any progressive initiatives." "The parliamentary majority is very concerned with social issues but, although Commissioners present reports and face questions in the Parliament, this can be avoided by sending unprepared deputies. Given the chance, though, we shall be giving him a hard time," she promised. At present the parliament could only vote to reject the new Commission as a whole, which it would never do. But, under the Maastricht treaty, if that is ratified, the European Parliament will gain the power to approve the President and the Commission. "The one consolation", says Ms Pollack, is that this new Commission is only being appointed for 2 years." A new Commission, appointed under the terms of Maastricht, has to take office on 7th January 1995. The treaty says it "shall consist of seventeen members, who shall be chosen on the grounds of their general competence and whose independence is beyond doubt." 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