Joanna Tuffy (Dublin Mid West, Labour) | Oireachtas source

This meeting has been convened for the purpose of consideration of the Gender Recognition Bill 2014 which was referred to the select sub-committee by order of the Dáil on 5 March. The Bill provides for legal recognition for all purposes of the preferred gender of transgender persons. Members may recall that the joint committee subjected the general scheme of the Bill to pre-legislative scrutiny and produced a report in January 2014. That took place after substantial consultation during which we invited written submissions. We then had, as far as I recall, two sessions of oral presentations, based on which the committee produced a report. The issues raised with us by stakeholders were very much reflected in the report and our recommendations. I thank the Minister of State, Deputy Kevin Humphreys; the Minister for Social Protection, Deputy Joan Burton, and the officials of that Department for taking on board much of what was contained in the report. It was probably one of our first pre-legislative scrutiny exercises. It was very good for us to see the result of the work we had put into it being taken on board by the Minister and the Minister of State and their officials. I thank everyone who contributed to the report, including the public who made a very important contribution. I welcome the Minister of State and his officials. My intention is for the committee to complete its consideration of Committee Stage of the Bill this afternoon. Is that objective agreed to? Agreed. I refer members to the groupings of amendments which have been circulated for the purposes of the debate.