-----if she does not change this definition of gender. It is as serious as this - there is serious endangerment of children in our schools based around a gender politics.

That was not an accusation.

It was a statement of opinion about the seriousness-----

-----of this issue. I assure those who might think that Senators McDowell and Keogan and I are standing up here for the good of our health because we found a kind of argument to make that it is a lot more serious than that. There is no rational basis for not separating gender and gender identity as two separate characteristic groups in the list of characteristics. Lesbian, gay and bisexual people want this separation. Let us be clear - it is the BeLonG To organisation, and nobody else, that wants to change the defi…

That is why this issue-----

For the assistance of Senator Flynn, it relates to Senator Keogan's amendment.

I am speaking to amendment No. 9 from Senator Keogan, seconded by me. It was BeLonG To that wanted the change in this definition of "gender". This new definition of "gender" is about causing confusion in the law. It lays the basis for changes to other gender-related legislation. Nobody knows what the new definition means but it achieves a specific aim which is to create an oppression of those who stand by the gender binary. I accept in the context of this Bill that it relates to this Bill, which has to do with hate…

Yes, it relates to gender. Do not be afraid of ideas.

I am afraid that children will be harmed as a result of the ideology that is influencing the Government. Is é sin an rud atá ag déanamh buartha dom.

The Minister's two boys are lucky to have great parents. Let us not bring that into it. There are many other vulnerable children in this country.

It is. It is to Senator Keogan's amendment which relates to the definition of "gender" and I am following up on what Senator McDowell said and what everybody is talking about. This will not take long but it is very revealing.

The Minister said to Senator Bruton, "as you will be aware, transgender and non-binary people, domestically and internationally, are unfortunately and increasingly targeted by hate crime offenders. The meaning of gender for the purposes of this legislation therefore has to recognise that offenders target individuals based on non-conforming gender identities like non-binary, in addition to binary gender identities such as male or female." That is not true because the distinctive terms "gender and gender identity or …

Everybody is welcome to this. However, as I said during the surrogacy legislation, it would be a sad day if we had to exclude certain points that we are making here as elected representatives because of who might be sitting in the Public Gallery. Everybody deserves respect but those in the Public Gallery are here to listen to what the parliamentarians have to say, not the other way around. We hear them when they are lobbying and then we come in to legislate, if we get a chance. My point is that the Government has n…

I am near the end of my comments to the Minister. In its submission, which I do not have to hand, it was Belong To that sought this new expansive definition of gender. It wants to replace the binary with the spectrum and wants to harness all laws built around the binary to apply to the spectrum. That, as I said, is the work that was going on in the background with regard to the equality Acts by the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth, the same ministry that was so misleading on the re…

What about the 2017 Act? I gave the Minister a way out.

It redefines gender.

It redefines gender. That is what is wrong with it. The Minister does not need to do it.

The Minister asked me a question.

She asked what is wrong-----

She looked at me.