Eoghan Kenny (Cork North-Central, Labour)

Supporting healthcare is not activism. It is governance. The Minister of State, Deputy Butler's commitment, first and foremost as a mother and as a Minister, to ensuring trans young people receive appropriate evidence-based care is exactly what we should expect from a Minister for mental health.

While I agree with the Minister of State, Deputy Butler, I must also highlight the shortcomings in healthcare in this regard. Wait list times for the National Gender Service are in excess of ten years. If a cis man was experiencing a hormone imbalance, he would not be expected to wait ten years. The attempts of some politicians to politicise trans healthcare is not leadership. Rather, it is an attempt to sow division where instead we should lead. Trans men are men. Their health is men's health. Compassion in public office is not a breach of conduct; it is our duty.

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