Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 28 April 2021
694. Deputy Mick Barry asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he will bring forward legislation on banning so-called conversion therapy aimed at LGBTQ persons; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21311/21]
Amharc ar fhreagra700. Deputy Denise Mitchell asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth his plans to form a consultative panel of representatives from the LGBTQ+ community; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21481/21]
Amharc ar fhreagra713. Deputy Cian O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he will form a consultative panel of representatives from the LGBTQ+ community and initiate proposals to ban so-called conversion therapy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21852/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 694, 700 and 713 together.
Ireland’s first National LGBTI+ Inclusion Strategy 2019-2021 was published on 28 November 2019 and complements the National LGBTI+ Youth Strategy published in June 2018. Since the launch of the Inclusion Strategy, a Committee has been in place to oversee its implementation. This group is made up of officials from key Government departments as well as civil society groups that represent LGBTI+ people in Ireland. The Committee has met on four occasions to date, most recently in March 2021. The Committee will meet next in June 2021.
The Programme for Government contains a commitment to legislate to end the practice of conversion therapy, a commitment I strongly support. The LGBTI+ National Youth Strategy 2018 – 2020 contains a commitment to prohibit the promotion or practice of conversion therapy by health professionals in Ireland. The National LGBTI+ Inclusion Strategy 2019-2022 commits to ensuring that the practice of conversion therapy in Ireland is investigated and followed up with appropriate counter measures.
My Department has prepared an initial scoping paper on this issue. A research subgroup of the Inclusion Strategy is being established and will consider what further research might be required in this area before legislative proposal can be brought forward by the Department of Health. I will engage on these proposals in the first instance with the LGBTI+ Inclusion Strategy Committee.
