Denis Naughten (Roscommon-Galway, Independent) | Oireachtas source

Based on UN estimates, two young girls have female genital mutilation performed on them every single minute. In a majority of countries the girls were cut before the age of five. This is happening here in Ireland, in that young girls have been taken out of Ireland to be cut. While FGM is prohibited here and it is also a criminal offence for someone in Ireland to take a girl to another country to undergo this procedure, it is important we raise awareness here; introduce right across Europe far more robust legislation along the lines of the legislation here; and ensure there is awareness among the authorities, the health professionals and the Garda and police authorities and that we enforce that legislation.

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