Written answers
Wednesday, 17 January 2024
Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth
Equality Issues
Ivana Bacik (Dublin Bay South, Labour)
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1307. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the current timeline to fulfil the Programme for Government commitment to legislate to ban conversion therapy; his response to the UN Human Rights Committee concluding observations on the fifth periodic report of Ireland that calls on the Government to ban conversion practises; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56336/23]
Roderic O'Gorman (Dublin West, Green Party)
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I note the Human Rights Committee's concluding observation on the fifth periodic report of Ireland in relation to the practice of conversion therapy.
The Programme for Government contains a commitment to legislate to ban conversion therapy. The National LGBTI Youth Strategy 2018 – 2020 and the National LGBTI+ Inclusion Strategy 2019 – 2021 contain commitments in relation to conversion therapy.
Given the potential complex and sensitive nature of the proposed legislation, the Government is carefully considering the underpinning policy matters to ensure that vulnerable members of society are protected from these harmful practices and that necessary and appropriate services for those with concerns in areas of sexual orientation and gender identity are not affected.
Intensive work on drafting the General Scheme is ongoing and officials continue to engage with the Office of the Attorney General on the matter. It is planned that legislative proposals will be brought forward shortly.
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