Seán Ó Fearghaíl (Kildare South, Fianna Fail)
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150. To ask the Minister for Social Protection if she will address the concerns raised in correspondence (details supplied) regarding the Gender Recognition Bill 2014; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [11252/15]

Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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The issues raised in relation to the Gender Recognition Bill 2014 have been the subject of detailed consultation, discussion and debate with representative groups, legal and medical experts and public representatives.

The provisions of the Bill have evolved and progressed since the publication of the initial recommendations by the Gender Recognition Advisory Group in 2011.

Pre-legislative scrutiny by the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Social Protection in 2013 led to further recommendations which have been incorporated into the Bill.

The provisions contain some very significant advances on previous proposals and compare very favourably with the equivalent legislation in many other countries in Europe.

The Bill was passed by the Seanad on 17^thFebruary 2015. Following the debate at Second Stage in the Dáil on 5^thMarch 2015, it was announced that, with the agreement of Cabinet, my Department will begin consultations in relation to the possible inclusion of General Practitioners in the validation process.If a satisfactory conclusion is reached the intention would be to bring amendments in the Dáil in due course. It remains my intention that this much needed civil rights legislation will be passed this year.

The transcripts of the Seanad and Dáil debates which will provide further details on the provisions of the Bill are available at .