Date: Thu, 24 Mar 1994 15:05 GMT
From:KLLLNGTN@vax1.tcd.ie
Subject: Emmet Stagg

Bjorn has asked for an update on the Emmet Stagg affair here in Ireland.
Stagg is the current Labour Minister for the Environment in Ireland. He
recently was more or less outed--rumours had been circulating that a
minister had been seen with gay men (although the insinuation was, with
rent boys) in Dublin's Phoenix Park, one of the cruise areas in the city.

Stagg, under pressure, announced to the media that he was the minister. He
had been in his car with a man who said he was gay. There was no suggestion
of anything else taking place!

Initially there was a flurry of articles (some on cruising and on married gay men--Stagg is married and has children), and the Prime Minister (Taoiseach) asked
for compassion. Then it was announced that Stagg would not be asked to step down. Recently while the Taoiseach was away in the States at the big White House
St. Patrick's Day event, some members of his party (Fianna Fail) made noises
about how Stagg should resign.

As of yesterday, the Taoiseach had spoken to those members of his party. He
announced that the Stagg affair was closed. The media hasn't shown much
further interest in it, either, and it seems the Irish people don't much
care, either, when all is said and done. Basically, Stagg has been a good
minister and a good representative for his district. When he was in Maynooth
(the location of a seminary) for their St. Patrick's Day parade, he was
cheered. 

A journalist friend of mine says that, basically, the policy of the Irish
media is to leave stories about sexual indiscretions or proclivities of
public figures alone...


Karlin
Trinity College
Dublin, Ireland