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Minister for Social Protection publishes Gender Recognition Bill 2013

Social Protection Minister Joan Burton, has today published the General Scheme of the Gender Recognition Bill 2013, following Cabinet approval. It provides for the recognition of the acquired gender of transgender people aged 18 and over and who are not married or in a civil partnership.

Once enacted, it will mean that a person who transitions gender will have their acquired gender fully recognised by the State for all purposes – including the right to marry or enter a civil partnership in the acquired gender and the right to a new birth certificate.

Minister Burton said:

I am delighted to publish this General Scheme of the Bill and I welcome the agreement of my Cabinet colleagues on these hugely important proposals. Since becoming Minister, I have engaged with the groups representing transgender people and I am very aware that the longstanding lack of legal recognition has caused on-going hurt as well as real practical difficulties. I believe that this Bill will go a long way towards addressing those concerns.

Read the full press release

here

.