Martin believes the most important thing that he can do is to lead by example as a gay man, not just in his own organisation but across the Irish public sector & business community, making being “OUT” unremarkable. One of the key pillars which underpins his organisation’s strategy is ‘Culture and Diversity’, recognising and encouraging the individual and collective uniqueness of the organisation’s most valuable asset, people. He has brought the issue of diversity in all its forms to the forefront in IDA Ireland. Externally, Martin has been forthright on LGBT+ issues, most notably during the Irish Same Sex Marriage Referendum campaign in 2015. As CEO of IDA Ireland and a senior public servant, his contribution, which highlighted the positive message of openness, inclusivity and welcome for diversity that passing the referendum would send out internationally, attracted a significant amount of comment from many quarters and received widespread media coverage at the time. In 2016 he became an LGBT+ Diversity Ambassador for the Gay & Lesbian Equality Network and has spoken at public events to promote LGBT+ diversity.
