Marcella Corcoran Kennedy (Laois-Offaly, Fine Gael)
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186. To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality if he will address the issue of gender identity through equality legislation. [18291/14]

Alan Shatter (Dublin South, Fine Gael)
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Proposals in relation to recognition of gender identity are being progressed by my colleague, the Minister for Social Protection, who published the General Scheme of a Gender Recognition Bill in July 2013.

With regard to equality legislation, the Equality Tribunal and the Courts have interpreted the existing provisions prohibiting gender discrimination as applying also to the situation of transgender persons. Therefore, amendment to these Acts is not necessary to ensure that the desired protections are in place in law for this group in society. The question of whether addition of an explicit reference might be beneficial, particularly in raising awareness of equality issues affecting transgender people in employment, will be further considered, however, in the context of any future review of equality legislation generally.