Minister for Children James Reilly has disagreed with Tánaiste Joan Burton on the recently published Gender Recognition Bill as it relates to children.
Dr Reilly wants the Bill, which gives formal legal recognition to the preferred gender of transgender people, to go further in recognising the rights of those aged 18 and under.
"I am aware that there are concerns being expressed by a number of groups with regard to the position of young persons and children . . ," he said. The Department of Social Protection published the proposed law earlier this month and it will be debated by a Dáil committee today.
The Bill provides for applications for gender recognition certificates from 16- and 17-year-olds.
In such cases, a court process will be required involving supporting medical statements before an application for a gender recognition certificate can be made.
According to the department , the Bill “contains these safeguards in order to balance the rights of such applicants with the need to protect their interests at a potentially vulnerable age”.
