Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire (Cork South Central, Sinn Fein)
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98. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the proposed timeframe for and the details of the LGBTI inclusion strategy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38108/18]

David Stanton (Cork East, Fine Gael)
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Following on from the development of the LGBTI+ National Youth Strategy launched in June 2018, the Department of Justice and Equality has commenced developing the National LGBTI Inclusion Strategy.

The Strategy will dovetail with the recommendations of the Youth Strategy and on the recently published Gender Recognition Act 2015 review.

Preliminary consultation has taken place with a range of stakeholders including LGBTI representative and community bodies, mental and sexual health practitioners, and legal experts.

The first inter-departmental meeting on the development of the National LGBTI Inclusion Strategy took place in the Department of Justice and Equality on 27 June 2018. Representatives from fourteen departments and agencies were present to identify the key areas on which the proposed strategy should focus and discuss how departments can work together to address the issues identified in specific sectors.

A series of public consultation sessions are planned for the autumn. To assist in this consultation, a facilitator has been identified to conduct a series of workshop sessions to take place in Dublin and a number of other regional locations. The target audience for these workshops are Civil Society Groups/NGOs, Community Groups, Experts, Government Departments and State Agencies, and interested members of the public.

The aim of these workshop sessions is to present a brief outline of the research findings on Irish society and policy matters which are identified and can be addressed through potential actions.

I am seeking to finalise the strategy early next year.