Aengus Ó Snodaigh (Dublin South Central, Sinn Fein)
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Question 121: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs when she will bring forward legislation to provide for recognition of transgendered persons' self-identified gender as agreed in the Revised Programme for Government. [40266/09]

Aengus Ó Snodaigh (Dublin South Central, Sinn Fein)
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Question 122: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs if, in view of the agreement in the Revised Programme for Government, she will provide recognition of transgendered persons' self-identified gender, in view of the fact that the appeal against a judgment (details supplied) will be dropped. [40267/09]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 121 and 122 together. People who have made the transition from one gender to the other, often referred to as transsexuals, increasingly wish to have the transition recognised by official bodies and have their altered sex and/or names reflected in official documents.

The High Court case referred to by the Deputy found that the Irish State is in breach of the European Convention on Human Rights in not having a process and a register to legally recognise the acquired gender of transsexual persons. The judgement, however, allows the State a degree of latitude in the design of the mechanisms to give such legal recognition.

In the revised Programme the Government accepts the need to provide legal recognition for transsexuals in their acquired gender. I will be moving to progress this matter in the immediate future. The design of the remedial measures will require careful consideration and consultation.