Ms Vanessa Lacey:

-----because it has cheered me up too. The issue of medical cards is a serious one. We are delighted that many of the treatments are provided through the HSE. Today is 4 July. On this day two years ago, at this time, I was under general anaesthetic in Charing Cross Hospital. Today, I am alive and extremely happy, although I am giving out about various issues, but at least I have the opportunity to do that. I am extremely happy that I undertook to do that, and I thank the surgeons for keeping me alive but, and there is always a "but", a number of areas stand out that are not covered, and one that is extremely important is laser therapy. That must be on the agenda, as well as voice therapy and other such treatments. Those are the two most important issues, especially when laser therapy can prevent complications developing after surgery. It is not typical to have laser therapy just for the removal of facial hair. It is to allow free movement in society. Also, it is extremely important to have laser therapy in other areas before surgery.

To answer Senator van Turnhout's question on transparency and family support, it is the key. I put a great deal of time into developing that group, and if I stop working tomorrow, I will know that I have developed that wonderful group which is moving from strength to strength. In 18 months we have brought them away for a weekend where they did therapeutic work with the fathers, mothers, siblings and children of transgender people, because it stops the situation I spoke about earlier. When all family members are brought in, it demystifies the situations around it. We are telling them the care pathways that are available, and that allows them to move on. We are dealing with it in a holistic manner.

On the education front, education is the key to ending transphobia because we are educating society. I would love to see age-appropriate books not just in second and third level education but in primary school. The key is to explain to children with age-appropriate literature that this is an identity issue. That will ensure children as young as two to five years of age are aware of their gender identity.