Jillian van Turnhout (Independent) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister of State. First, I thank all of my colleagues who have been supportive of this issue. As I stated to the Minister of State earlier, when I first came to this issue a few years ago I thought of adults and it is was only as I went deeper into the issue I realised how this was a children's rights issue and not only an adults' issue. Obviously, we will discuss the importance of getting it right for adults too.

I greatly appreciate the engagement the Minister of State, his officials and officials from other Departments have had. Obviously, education is not the only part of the child's life but it is extremely significant. I welcome that the Minister for Education and Skills, Deputy Jan O'Sullivan, told the Minister of State to state here today that she has agreed to meet TENI over the coming weeks and about bringing together a round-table discussion with the education partners to progress this issue. I would like to see the issue being progressed.

Even in the past few weeks, I have probably talked more about this to more of those I know. I am concerned about where somebody asks what harm can it do if we do not do anything at present, what is the problem and why I will not relax for a while on it. The reality is that we know the effects it will have on children. I gave the example from a mother. We are aware of the effects on children when we do not deal with issues of identity and we do not allow them to live as who they are - whether it is gender identity or other issues. We are aware of the self-harm, depression and substance abuse. They drop out of education. There is bullying and peer rejection. There are all of those issues. There will be significant harm if we do not do this.

It is for that reason I propose not to press the amendment today but I am not letting the issue go. As I said to the Minister of State before today when we met, I would intend, as there will be social welfare Bills coming through this House, to give it three months' grace, but then in the next social welfare Bill that comes into this House I will put down a clear suite of amendments to deal with the issue of gender recognition of children. I would hope during that period I can engage with the Minister of State and the other Departments involved. I understand we must look at unintended consequences to ensure that we get amendments right but, equally, I cannot let it go. A fair way is to say - I am putting it on the record now because what I do not want to happen when a social welfare Bill comes before us is to be told it is outside the remit of that Bill - I will be clearly putting forward this suite of amendments that we address children's rights.

However, I want to see this Bill proceed. I look forward to hearing the outcome of the Minister for Education and Skills in progressing those issues because maybe we will find that there is another way that we can do this. For me, the principle of it is allowing children to identify as they see themselves. We need to meet them where they are. That is what we need to do.

If I can find another way to do this in legislation, we will do it. As I stated, I will withdraw the amendments today, but I will be back. I will give three months to allow a period of consultation with the other Departments. Let the work of the Department of Education and Skills move forward, but let us not forget children.Let us come back to this issue when maybe everybody will have had a chance to catch up, and I encourage people to carry out research. Once a person becomes immersed in this issue and reads the case studies, one becomes convinced that we have to do something. Part of me asks why common sense cannot prevail. I must find a way to put into legislation that common sense will prevail. That, for me, will add to the cultural attitudes and changes that we will have as a society to understand the importance of allowing each one of us, including myself and many colleagues seated in the Visitors Gallery, to live lives in the way one wishes to be identified. All we are asking is that rights and equality are equal.