David Norris (Independent) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Leas-Chathaoirleach. I appreciate his generosity.

The situation in America is appalling. Sixty people have been killed and a further 500 have been injured. Americans always go back to the second amendment, which protected the right to carry a blunderbuss in an 18th century rebellious colony. Things are completely different now. This man had an arsenal of over 40 guns, including machine guns. He could outgun the police. It is a ridiculous situation. I do not understand why the Americans will not face it.

I have been contacted by a US-born transgender person who has received Irish citizenship through descent. She has obtained a personal public services number and a gender recognition certificate through the Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection. She has the highest praise for the way she has been treated by that Department. When she applied to get her passport changed, she was told she needed to get her foreign birth registration sorted out first of all. When she contacted the embassy, she was told there is no mechanism for such a change. It looks as if the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade is blocking passport changes for people with transgender identity in defiance of the will of the Oireachtas. I ask the Deputy Leader to bring this to the attention of the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade so we can ascertain whether the catch-22 situation in which this unfortunate person is caught can be sorted out.