Liz McManus (Wicklow, Labour)
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Question 82: To ask the Minister for Health and Children when she will introduce legislation to ban female genital mutilation; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [26324/09]

Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Progressive Democrats)
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Legal advice which I obtained in 2004 strongly indicated that Female Genital Mutilation would constitute an offence under the Non-Fatal Offences Against the Person Act 1997.

In 2008 the Women's Health Council published a report on Female Genital Mutilation. The council's research found no evidence that Female Genital Mutilation is being carried out in Ireland among ethnic communities living here.

The question of introducing specific legislation to ban Female Genital Mutilation remains under review.