Don Lydon (Fianna Fail)

I ask the Leader to consider arranging a debate on a form of abuse which, according to UNICEF, has affected approximately 140 million young women over the past ten years. Annually, 2 million women and young girls are at risk of female genital mutilation. This problem has arisen in many western countries with the influx of immigrants but is not usually discovered until something serious happens. The United Kingdom recently introduced legislation to address this matter. Perhaps we could broaden our debate to include discussion of suttee, honour killings and female infanticide. This important area is one we could do something to tackle. I hope any debate we hold will lead ultimately to the introduction of legislation to ban such practices.