Harney to introduce Bill to ban genital mutilation

MINISTER FOR Health Mary Harney will introduce the heads of a Bill to ban female genital mutilation (FGM) in the next three months, her spokesman said last night.

Labour Senator Ivana Back said she welcomed the Minister’s “goodwill and support” as she outlined her own proposed legislation on the issue in the Seanad during private members business.

“I welcome the Minister’s announcement that she will publish the heads of a Bill to prohibit FGM within three months, before we rise for the summer recess in July – and that she will publish the Bill itself within six months,” Ms Bacik said.

There was no explicit legal protection against FGM in Ireland and no specific legislation to protect a child from being removed from Ireland to have the mutilation carried out overseas, she said.

“Over 2,585 women living in Ireland are estimated to have undergone FGM; therefore FGM is a serious child protection and women’s health issue that has real implications for girls and women in Ireland.”