John Brady (Wicklow, Sinn Fein)
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552. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the timeline for the review of the Gender Recognition Act 2015; the date she expects the review group’s findings to be released; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [21316/18]

Regina Doherty (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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Section 7 of the Gender Recognition Act 2015 provides for the Minister to undertake a review of the Act. The Deputy may be aware that, in November 2017, I established a group to conduct that review.

The group is chaired by Moninne Griffith, Executive Director of BeLonG To, the national organisation for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender (LGBT) young people, aged between 14 and 23.

It also includes a child participation expert, a law lecturer and representatives from Transgender Equality Network of Ireland (TENI); IndividualiTy (BeLonG To’s youth group for Transgender young people in Dublin), the Health Services Executive (HSE), the Departments of Employment Affairs and Social Protection; Children and Youth Affairs; Justice and Equality; Education and Skills; and Foreign Affairs and Trade. The secretariat is provided by my Department.

Central to the review is a public consultation process. In early January, I announced a public call for submissions and, I am pleased to say, that it attracted a significant level of response with over 90 submissions received.

I understand that the work of the Review Group is well advanced and I expect to receive its report shortly. Following my consideration of the report, and any recommendations made by the Review Group, I will lay my report before the Oireachtas as provided for in Section 7 of the Act.

I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.