Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

FGM is universally recognised as a form of gender-based violence and a fundamental violation of human rights and girls here in Ireland. The practice of FGM is estimated to affect more than 3,780 women and girls in Ireland between the ages of 15 and 45. The Criminal Justice (Female Genital Mutilation) Act 2012 provides for the creation of an offence of FGM and other offences relating to FGM. Under the Act it is a criminal offence for a person living in Ireland to perform FGM or to take a girl to another country to have FGM performed on her, as the Deputy has rightly outlined. In addition to prohibiting the use of FGM in law, it is important that appropriate responsive services at primary care level are in place to provide necessary care and support to women and girls who may have undergone FGM, whether illegally in Ireland or whether they have been taken out of the country for it to happen and then come back again.

The HSE is also working to raise awareness of the health implications of FGM among at-risk communities through information and support. An FGM resource pack for health professionals and relevant staff in maternity and associated settings has also been disseminated. The HSE also provides funding for a national network of immigrant women to facilitate working with target communities around raising awareness of the illegality of FGM and sharing information about the risks of this practice and the supports available for people. We are doing a lot but we need to do more.

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