David Cullinane (Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I move amendment No. 26:

In page 12, to delete line 25 and substitute the following:

"(c) an indication of the person's gender using the abbreviations M (male), F (female) or X (indeterminate/unspecified/intersex).".

This amendment seeks to allow a facility for those who do not identify with being male or female. In Australia there is a provision to allow inclusion in a passport as male or female or X to indicate indeterminate, unspecified or intersex. As the Minister of State is aware, gender is a complex spectrum and that here are many persons who are trans for whom this legislation will not cater as there is no provision for those of a non-binary gender. This, however, is not a particularly complex legal question which has been addressed in other jurisdictions. We can do so also in the context of this Bill.