Mr. Colm O'Gorman:

It is happening both within the EU but also there is a concern about the return of girls and women to practising communities where they will be subjected to FGM. The Deputy will know that in the context of the Irish legislation there was a strong focus on the need for the principle of extra-territoriality to be included in that legislation because in our experience of talking to affected communities we know it is important to empower parents in particular with those principles. This is to ensure that if they are returning to a community where they are under significant pressure to allow their children be subject to FGM they will say they cannot because when they return to whatever European country they are living in it is a criminal offence. That is an important principle. There is concern about the return of women and girls to practising communities, the practice within the EU but also how we respond to EU citizens and people living within the EU who have been subjected to FGM. There is a broad range of concerns.