14 October

Kate Feeney’s report was overwhelmingly approved with cross-party support during the European Committee of the Regions plenary.

Fianna Fáil covers her report as “Kate Feeney leads latest EU fight against Homophobia“

Watch Kate Feeney’s intervention on Youtube! 

1 October

During the SEDEC-commission meeting of the European Committee of the Regions Kate Feeney intervened to raise awareness during the discussion of homelessness to advocate for a strengthening of the point / focus on homelessness among LGBTIQ-people. 

23 June

While discussing the Gender Equality Actions, Kate Feeney raised her voice for gender equality tools “that allow women to obtain and develop skills and knowledge to not only receive a place in politics, but allows them to grow in it” during the European Committee of the Regions SEDEC Commission meeting. “The Covid-19 crisis was an eye opening experience, young parents were finally able not to choose between career and family life – this should also be part of our future!”

22 April

The SEDEC commission of the European Committee of the Regions debated the draft report of rapporteur Kate Feeney. During the debate there was the participation of Renew Europe MEP Pierre Karleskind.  

11 April

Raising and discussing the issue of the rights of rainbow families in cross-border movement within the EU, councillor Kate Feeney focused on how local authorities can rise above and beyond of existing national laws:

11 March 

Renew Europe, the Party of European Socialists, European Alliance and the Greens Groups in the European Committee of the Regions warmly welcome the European Parliament Resolution on the declaration of the EU as an LGBTIQ Freedom Zone and commit to step up the European Committee of the Regions’ work to protect LGBTIQ rights and freedoms across cities and regions.

Renew Europe CoR President, François Decoster, Mayor of Saint-Omer and member of the Regional Council of Hauts-de-France, argued: “The defense of LGBTIQ citizens to be themselves with full rights is a top priority for our group. For over a year we have been working on a series of initiatives, including letters signed by many members of our network sent to 30 Polish municipalities to work with them promoting diversity as a source of strength for any local or regional community, we have worked with the French Secretary of State for EU Affairs ahead of his recent visit to Poland, and our member, the CoR rapporteur on this strategy, Kate Feeney has contributed significantly to the resolution in the European Parliament. More than ever, we embrace equality and diversity and we stand together in our support of freedom for LGBTIQ citizens across Europe”

17 February 

First exchange of views on the rapporteur’s opinion; Kate Feeney (Fianna Fáil) of Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council presented the preliminary outline of her report on the EU’s first ever LGBTIQ Equality Strategy. In a discussion with local and regional politicians from all over the EU, Kate Feeney warned of the backsliding taking place in some EU Member States, and that a closer look at the data reveals that there are large disparities from one country to another and between municipalities and regions.

She said: “Local authorities can choose to embrace equality and diversity and prosper as a result, or choose to create a climate of fear and intimidation that deprives large groups of people of their rights. Evidence shows that economies that are more inclusive are better placed to recover from hardship, such as from the COVID pandemic. But this is also a question of people’s wellbeing and the level of mental health problems within the LGBTIQ community is very high, in particular among bisexual, transgender, and intersex people. This must be addressed when implementing this new EU strategy, and local and regional authorities have an essential and tangible role to play”

2020

25 November 2020

Kate Feeney was appointed as rapporteur for the Union of Equality: LGBTIQ Equality Strategy 2020 – 2025.