James Reilly (Dublin North, Fine Gael)

The Health Service Executive has already engaged in significant steps to raise awareness and train health and social care professionals in this area by progressing the health-related objectives of the national action plan against FGM over the past several years. Its latest initiative in this field is the introduction of a national maternity health care record this year. This new form will be used for all women booking in for maternity care and includes, for the first time at national level, FGM as a risk factor for obstetric care.

Members want the law to send a loud message to people who use the duality loophole. We will be in discussions with the Minister for Justice and Equality, Deputy Shatter, around immigration law. That is the appropriate area where this loophole can be covered off. Cosc is also examining this area and I cannot pre-empt what it will recommend.

Under the terms of the convention, the practice of FGM is condemned and it provides there should not be a dual criminality requirement. The removal of dual criminality in FGM legislation could be revisited if and when Ireland ratifies the convention. I am not in a position to inform Deputies when that will be, however. I hope Members will accept we are acting under the best legal advice. We want the strong message to go out that this act of violence against women is utterly unacceptable in this country and we will protect all our citizens and residents to the best of our ability both here and abroad. There can be no doubt as to our commitment to that.

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