Fidelma Healy Eames (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I welcome the amendment tabled by Senator Katherine Zappone and others. I attended a human rights day in Galway last Friday week with Professor O'Flaherty, who has since written an interesting piece on the Bill in The Irish Times. I was struck by the fact that he called this a bad law. Those are strong words. He took the view that it falls far short of where we could be. I have heard that point made in the House. I participated in the debate on Second Stage but, unfortunately, I could not be here on Committee Stage. I cannot ignore his words.He said the Bill is out of line with international good practice, at odds with the country's international human rights commitments and falls far short of what it should be honouring, namely, the right of everyone to be recognised in his or her gender of choice and for members of the transgender community to live as who they are and to be welcomed as the people they choose to be. That principle is enshrined in international human rights law.

I welcome Senator Zappone's amendment because the Bill needs to be improved. A review, within the timeframe she suggests, would be welcome. Such a review must be assessed in the context of international best practice and with regard to the legislation's compliance with national, regional and international equality and human rights standards. I would like the Minister of State to respond to the views of Professor Michael O'Flaherty that this is a bad Bill. I put it to the Minister that, at the very least, we must remain cognisant of the need to review the legislation in as short a timeframe as possible.