Vol. 536 No. 5
97 Ms McManus asked the Minister for Health and Children if, in view of the recent report on female genital mutilation by the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe, he will outline the steps, including legislative or education measures, he intends to take to prevent this practice here; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14797/01]
Female genital mutilation is a harmful traditional practice which constitutes an assault which causes serious harm to girls and women on whom it is carried out. Such an act is an offence under the Non-Fatal Offences Against the Person Act, 1997. It would, therefore, be a matter for the Garda Síochána to prosecute any person who performed FGM in Ireland. However I am considering whether it may be appropriate to enact legislation specifically prohibiting this practice.
My Department has recently written to the chief executive officers of the health boards, drawing their attention to this issue and requesting that personnel working with immigrant populations take opportunities to educate them about the dangers and unacceptability of female genital mutilation. My Department has also written to the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform asking it to arrange through the Directorate for Asylum Support Services that asylum seekers are made aware of the situation.
