Equality Issues
Seanad Éireann — 2021-11-18
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Roderic O'Gorman (GP), Dublin West

I am not offended. I am just saying that we have to be very careful with the language we use in this area. From her experience as a foster parent, the Senator acknowledges and knows better than me the sensitivities of children and the pressures they face, particularly where a child may be struggling with gender identity. That is why the language we use here is extremely important when we talk about these issues and the concerns people have. Referencing and bringing the debate straight to the worst-case scenario is problematic and not the way to go. I accept this is an issue and debate we will be looking at when the legislation is brought for pre-legislative scrutiny. It will probably go through the Committee on Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth, on which the Senator is represented. We will have an opportunity then to examine these issues in detail. However, it is important to reiterate in the House that the rights and existence of transpeople in our country are not matters for debate.

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Record URI: https://data.oireachtas.ie/akn/ie/debateRecord/seanad/2021-11-18/debate/main
Retrieved: 2026-08-14T04:49:50+00:00
Sitting date: 2021-11-18