Roderic O’Gorman Minister Children, Disability, Equality and Integration
Last night/this morning.
Minister for Children, Disability, Equality and Integration Roderic O’Gorman has said that, under a commitment in the Programme for Government, laws to make it easier for 16 and 17-year-olds to legally change their gender will be introduced by the new coalition.
Mr O’Gorman said a review group had carried out work on the Gender Recognition Act and have also recommended examining the arrangements for children under 16 who may want to change gender.
Mr O’Gorman told Independent.ie:
“They [expert group] brought forward proposals for children under 16. Right now, if [under 16s] want to initiate a gender change, they have to get kind of high-level medical consultants to actually sign off on that. Whereas the recommendation is to make that easier to allow a GP basically to sign off to say yes…. In an area like this, you should be led by expert advice.”
The expert group comprised Moninne Griffith, BeLonGTo (Chair); Dearbháil Nic Giolla Mhicíl, Department of Employment Affairs & Social Protection; Olive McGovern,Department of Children &Youth Affairs; Gráinne Morrissey,Department of Education & Science; Nuala Ní Mhuircheartaigh, Department of Foreign Affairs & Trade; Diane Nurse, Health Service Executive; Tracy O’Keeffe, Department of Justice & Equality (Civil Law Reform Division); Adam Egan, Department of Justice & Equality (Equality Division); Dr.Tanya Ní Mhuirthile, Dublin City University; Séamus Byrne, IndividualiTy; Sara Phillips,Transgender Equality Network Ireland (TENI); Michele Clarke, Chief Social Worker, Department of Children &Youth Affairs and Anne O’Donnell, Manager, Hub na nÓg – Young Voices in Decision-making.
New Children’s Minister to make it easier for under-16s to change their gender (Independent.ie)