Republic of Ireland Cabinet to discuss gender recognition
The Irish Cabinet is to discuss proposals to allow trans people to be legally recognised as their gender.
The Republic of Ireland is currently the only country in the EU that has legal no gender recognition laws – preventing the legal recognition and protection of those who have transitioned.
The country drew up draft legislation to address the hole last year when compelled to do so by a court settlement, but it is has been met with criticism from trans activists.
The need for married trans people to divorce in order to gain legal recognition has been removed following the referendum.
The bill’s progress was halted because of Ireland’s same-sex marriage referendum, over fears the two issues would be confused.
Ireland’s government was forced to draw up the bill by the European Court of Human Rights after a lengthy by Dr Lydia Foy to have her gender recognised.
The Public Expenditure Minister Brendan Howlin told Newstalk: “It’s a social issue that needs to be addressed. People trapped from birth in the wrong gender identity, it must be torture.
“I can only imagine the torture that would provide for people and I think that a fair minded government and a fair minded government would seek to relieve that pain.”
