David Norris (Independent)

I ask the Leader to transmit to the Government congratulations on the very welcome fact that Ireland has been given a major European award in recognition that road deaths have been reduced by 41% since 2001, which is remarkable. It is a very good news story and we should pay tribute to the signal, determined and consistent efforts of Mr. Gay Byrne, who took on the job of being in control of this and was derided in this House and in some of the newspapers. We should welcome this award and the lives that have been saved.

We should also congratulate a remarkable human being who has just won a significant victory in the Irish courts. I am talking about Dr. Lydia Foy, who 13 years ago took action to establish the rights of transgendered people to have their newly assigned gender reflected on passports. She was eventually successful in the High Court some years ago in getting a declaration under the 2003 Act passed by these Houses incorporating the European Convention on Human Rights, as the existing Civil Registration Act was incompatible with the convention.

It was a very significant ruling as it was the first made under this legislation. It took enormous courage for somebody coming from a spectrum many people would think rather bizarre to take the action. She was courageous, dignified and tenacious in her action. In light of this, when will the Government address the issue by introducing new legislation?

We are in a position where transgendered people can have existing marriages annulled but this does nothing for the rights of the remaining spouses and the children, who are merely facts on the ground. We should urge the Government to follow the United Kingdom example, which recognises the rights of transgendered people and also recognises the rights of spouses from previous relationships. It is humane.