Ms Simonetta Ryan:

The Bill has not yet been drafted by the Office of the Parliamentary Counsel. Deputy Ó Snodaigh asked about definitions but these are not available yet. However, I will take this opportunity to say - Professor O'Shea also picked up this point - that the wording can be such as to provide for people with intersex conditions, so I did not specify that in my opening presentation. Deputy Ó Snodaigh also mentioned the question of age, as have a number of other people. The recommendations in the scheme of this Bill are based on the recommendations of the GRAG report, with additional changes for which the Minister has received Cabinet approval, particularly with regard to validation. The position on age is the recommendation in the GRAG report and it is based on a kind of prudent approach. Professor O'Shea has also talked about the difficulties for young people and the fact that in some cases people may change their minds. I accept this is a difficult area. However, the Government made a very clear decision that the age would be 18 years. The legislation is being drawn up on that basis.