Jillian van Turnhout (Independent) | Oireachtas source

I, too, wish to extend my welcome to both TENI, Dr. Crowley and the HSE. I am relatively new to this issue and because it is relatively recent I am still struggling with my vocabulary.

I say that because it is an issue that is not widely discussed. I have tried to talk to friends, family members and others about it. I feel I am relatively new to the issue and they feel they know nothing about it other than what they read in a sensational media report which does not provide the knowledge and briefings we get as Oireachtas Members. For me, it brings home the reality that while we are having a really important discussion here, there is a wider societal issue. I was very struck by Ms Lacey's very moving testimony and the importance of her right to her identity. There is also the importance of family life, especially for children. Even as we grow older, family life and those family ties are very important.

Given my children's rights background, my questions are first on children and the process of identification and understanding. Where do they seek support? How do the parents help the child to have the vocabulary to understand that they are going through a process of realisation? I am saying this as an Oireachtas Member who is fortunate to get all the briefings and background. I get the vocabulary piece. In rural or urban areas the information facilities and supports are not there for the families and children. I am sure Senator Zappone will inform the witnesses of her excellent Bill, which I was very happy to support. At the launch on Tuesday it was very moving to hear from two young people with distinctively different experiences. One was being bullied in school and ended up with the only option of being schooled at home. That indicated a real failure of today's Ireland. When I listened to Ms Lacey, I became conscious that because so much of our education is delivered in single sex schools, we have to find a way to balance and deal with the issue.

I would also be interested to explore more about the inter-sex issue, particularly around birth certificates and carrying through.

No mention was made of older people. Can I just assume there are no issues there? Obviously I have been very focused on children, but given that Irish society is waking up to this issue in some way and that a ripple effect is taking place, will some people now come to a realisation that helps them to understand their identity and who they are?

I have a question about asylum seekers. From my meetings in direct provision centres and talking to different individuals, this is one of the issues leading to people seeking asylum. However, they are very often are put in very inappropriate accommodation perhaps with people of nationalities that would not have any tolerance of this issue. Is that an issue that has been raised?

In 2014, when these HSE plans are all cleared, they should come before the committee for discussion.