Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 21 April 2021
1120. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Social Protection her views on the lack of progress in the area of legal recognition for non-binary persons; if she is committed to providing for an X mark on legal documents in line with the practice in other progressive European countries; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18612/21]
View answerThe Review Group for the Gender Recognition Act recommended extending legal gender recognition to non-binary people, while also recognising the complexity of the issue and acknowledging that a comprehensive impact analysis may be required. An interdepartmental group is being established to carry out this impact assessment and submit a report to Government for consideration.
Preliminary work has commenced in relation to the inter-departmental group; however, the ongoing devotion of resources within the Department to the public health crisis and associated matters has meant that it has not yet been possible to further progress this work. The matter will be kept under review and remains as part of the Programme for Government.
In the meantime, Government Departments and other public bodies will take positive steps to improve the position of non-binary people. This could include measures such as:
- promoting the use and acceptance of correct pronouns;
- improving the design of official forms and documentation to permit the use of a third gender option, or no gender at all, where it is possible to do so.
