Leo Varadkar to attend Belfast pride
The Irish Prime Minister has confirmed he will be at a breakfast to promote the rights of the LGBT community.
Last updated 1st Aug 2017
The Taoiseach will make his first visit to Northern Ireland on Friday to meet with political leaders.
It will be his first visit since taking over from the former Premier Enda Kenny in June.
After the breakfast, Mr Varadkar will then attend the All-Ireland senior football championship quarter-final between Dublin and Monaghan, meaning he will miss the annual parade through Belfast.
Referring to the DUP's opposition to same-sex marriage, Mr Varadkar said he would not be deterred:
"I will attend the Pride breakfast on Saturday morning in Belfast to express my support for equality before the law for Catholics, Protestants, non-religious people, men, women, gay people and straight people.
"And I won't be making any compromises about that for anyone really.''
In June, the Taoiseach revealed he was gay ahead of the Republic's 2015 same-sex marriage referendum.
Northern Ireland is the only part of the UK and Ireland where same-sex marriage remains outlawed.
The DUP has used the petition of concern to prevent a law change, despite a majority of MLAs supporting the move at the last vote.
Uniformed officers from the Police Service of Northern Ireland are due to participate in this year's Belfast Pride march for the first time.
Garda officers have also been invited to join them.