John Paul Phelan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fine Gael)
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209. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the legal status of female genital mutilation in Irish law; and whether it is permissible for minors to be brought out of the State for such practices. [38381/24]

Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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As the Deputy will be aware, our response to Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) is primarily a health-led response and in September 2012, the then Minister for Health signed the commencement order for the Criminal Justice (Female Genital Mutilation) Act 2012. As the long-title of the Act explains, this important piece of legislation creates an offence of female genital mutilation and provides for other offences related to female genital mutilation for the better protection of girls and women.

Under this Act it is a criminal offence for a person to attempt to or to perform FGM in Ireland and it is a criminal offence for someone resident in Ireland to take a girl to another country to undergo FGM.

Zero Tolerence, the third national strategy on domestic sexual and gender-based violence recognises FGM as a form of gender-based violence and the Strategy commits to putting in place special health support services required by victims/survivors of FGM. To fulfil this action, the HSE is undertaking a mapping exercise of current service provision with a view to identifying gaps in the current provision to victims/survivors of FGM. This mapping will include consultation with relevant community support organisations and will include looking at the needs assessment of staff.

In this year’s implementation plan for the Strategy, there are also actions with the HSE on this issue, including making FGM-specific content available to health staff and helpline workers in DSGBV training modules, and to provide FGM-specific awareness sessions. This work has progressed, including a training session for Social Inclusion staff in March of this year, with more than 55 professionals registered.

To raise awareness of the law, An Garda Síochána undertakes an information initiative called Operation Limelight and has provided information to passengers travelling to and from Ireland which explains in simple terms what FGM is, outlines the law in Ireland, and informs people what they can do if they are worried that a girl may be at risk of FGM.