Marcella Corcoran Kennedy (Offaly, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Senator. It is recognised that the HSE has a good relationship with AkiDwA because it has the expertise to assist in dealing with this horrific practice.

The way crime statistics are reported is certainly something that will have to be explored. As I outlined earlier, if incidents occur, they are classified under other specific titles. We will have to examine how FGM is recorded. Is it because of legislation from the Department of Justice and Equality? Is it through the way An Garda Síochána report it? Is it the way the Central Statistics Office records the offence? We must establish where change needs to be made. I concur with the Senator about the matter. She can rest assured that I will pursue the matter and see what we can achieve in terms of ensuring this awful and horrendous crime is accurately reported.