Kevin Humphreys (Dublin South East, Labour) | Oireachtas source

To add to Senator Mooney's contribution, I wish to acknowledge the work done by Dr. Lydia Foy. In many ways this is ground-breaking legislation but I also accept that, much to everybody's shame, it is 20 years being brought forward. It would have been better if Dr. Foy had not been obliged to go through the courts to secure her rights.A vote of thanks should go to her in this regard.

Great credit is also due to the officials who have dealt with the amendments, motions and notes throughout this period and have stuck with this Bill for so long. I became involved almost three quarters of the way through the process and the officials across nine Departments and the two officials who are with me today have stuck with this legislation for a very long period. I pay particular tribute to their dedication.

It would be remiss not to pay tribute to the dedication of the Senators who have been so much engaged with this. Senator Mooney is correct. I doubt that there have ever been so many meetings and discussions not just in this House, but also outside it, on fleshing out the detail of legislation. It is all the better for that. A body of work must be done in respect of the mechanism relating to transgender children and education. I re-affirm what I said earlier about that and I look forward to working with the Senator and the Minister to ensure that work is carried out.

Senator Mooney made a contribution earlier about the review. He was not present when I responded to it-----