Willie O'Dea (Limerick City, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I referred to a British study which indicated that 96% of people who want to change gender decide that they must do so before they have reached the age of 18. It is generally recognised that if somebody discovers they are living in the wrong gender they suffer a lot until such time as they can go through the process of getting formal recognition. We have been given examples of this. I ask the Minister to bear this in mind in his discussions with the various groups over the next couple of weeks. It would not damage the Bill to bring the age down to 16. Looking at the requirements that a person aged over 16 and under 18 has to fulfil, one can see that many people between 16 and 18 will not, from a practical point of view, be able to undertake this.

In practical terms, the procedure will not be open to many people between 16 and 18. They will not be able to undertake it from a practical point of view. In reality, therefore, it will only be open to people from 18 years onwards. What will be the net result of bringing it down to 16? We have the same requirements for people over 16 as currently apply to those over 18. It will relieve the suffering, angst and anxiety that a lot of those unfortunate young people have to go through between the ages of 16 and 18 when at last they can get formal recognition. Frankly, I think that would make it a better Bill.