Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 7 July 2022
258. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he will take action to introduce a ban to prevent the practice of conversion therapy urgently rather than waiting for the completion of a report from research surrounding conversion therapy commissioned by him in 2022. [36836/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Programme for Government contains a commitment to legislate to end the practice of conversion therapy, an objective I strongly support.
In addition, the LGBTI+ National Youth Strategy 2018 – 2021 contains a commitment to prohibit the promotion or practice of conversion therapy by health professionals in Ireland, and the National LGBTI+ Inclusion Strategy 2019 - 2022 commits to ensuring that the practice is investigated and followed up with appropriate counter measures.
My Department recently commissioned research aimed at capturing the views and experiences of people who have been subjected to the practice of conversion therapy in Ireland. This qualitative research which commenced in February 2022 is expected to be completed in Autumn 2022, and will assist the Government in developing legislation to ban the practice of conversion therapy. My Department will also look at international good practice in this regard. It is necessary to examine the findings of this research so that any subsequent legislation will be appropriately targeted.
