David Norris (Independent) | Oireachtas source

The Minister of State with responsibility for health promotion, Deputy Catherine Byrne, talking in the Dáil about transgender issues said "transgender specific guidelines developed by the World Professional Association for Transgender Health, WPATH", internationally recognised best practice people, would provide the framework for the situation. Full implementation of this would lead to a great widening of the number of clinicians involved and really attack the terrible waiting lists she said. However, and this is the conflict, Dr. Paul Moran, a liaison psychiatrist who plays a central role in treating people in the Dublin clinic says that these guidelines "as they apply to assessment and treatment recommendations are not part of our model of care, are clinically unsafe, and unsuitable for use". Professor Donal O'Shea says that these guidelines are "very lax... their application would lead to a significant regret rate" and this statement completely contradicts Deputy Catherine Byrne's assertion. He goes on to say, and this is my final comment: "We don't intend to run the service in line with WPATH guidelines." Who is telling the truth here? Is it the Minister of State who is politically in charge or will it be at the whim of clinicians? We really need to clarify this. I thank the Leas-Chathaoirleach for his indulgence.