Programme for Government

A collection of 24 posts

Council of Europe

No laughing matter

The Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission (IHREC) is pushing for “gender identity, gender expression, and sex characteristics” to be included in equality legislation. Belief in having a gender identity can't be allowed to supplant the reality of one’s sex.

AGPs

Labour's losing it

We all know that WPATH's latest and 8th Version even offers a chapter on eunuchs with plenty of mention of castration. It's not what most of us would consider "healthcare". And "gender affirming care" is an oxymoron.

AGPs

Gender Recognition Act has to go

"Imagine a law that allowed white people to declare they are black or adults to declare they are children. There would rightly be uproar. Yet women are supposed to accept that any man can say he’s a woman, or be called a bigot."

Equality legislation

Law, not justice

If the Government's plans to protect men's "gender identity" in our equality legislation is successful, it may mean that women and girls will not be able to object to men or boys in our sports, schools, changing rooms.

AGPs

Department speaks out of both sides of its mouth

Just announced: a new public consultation on the next National Strategy for Women and Girls. Is this just another box ticking exercise before proceeding once again with what the gender identity activists in our NGOs and Government want?

AGPs

Women's protections at risk from adding "gender identity" to our equality legislation?

“It is planned that legislative proposals arising from the Review of the Equality Acts will be brought forward shortly. Policy officials are seeking legal advice on a number of matters before proposals can be finalised."

Citizens Assembly on Gender Equality

Are some people more equal than others?

"Throughout the submissions, the proposal to specifically include gender identity within the Equality Acts was contentious.." Yet the Government gave a commitment to include it in our equality legislation in the 2020 Programme for Government. Do the public really have any say at all?

Gender identity ideology

Who imported the culture wars?

In the 2020 Programme for Government there are multiple examples of gender identity ideology being introduced, none of which have popular support. So where does the blame lie for the importation of the "culture wars"?

Gender identity ideology

Eunuch is a gender now

"The authors of the new standards, which include NHS medics and heads of UK trans charities, argue that castration could help some eunuchs better align with their 'gender identity'."

Freedom of expression

When some are more equal than others

Thread from 2nd January 2022 Dear Minister @rodericogorman, Women weren't consulted when a commitment was given to add the concept of "gender identity" to our equality legislation. A public consultation was only held in 2021 and we still don't know the responses. Do they

Equality legislation

Leinster House succumbs to policy capture

"'policy capture', where public decisions over policies are consistently or repeatedly directed away from the public interest towards a specific interest, can exacerbate inequalities and undermine democratic values, economic growth and trust in government"

Conversion therapy

Legislation promised - now evidence of need required

Many see including "gender identity" in a ban on conversion therapy as a Trojan Horse to prevent health professionals from doing their job of counselling young people. Is "affirmation" of young people leading to hormones and surgery the real "conversion therapy"?

Programme for Government

#SaveOurSpaces campaign organized by Radicailin

Excerpts and photos from Radicailin's campaign launch #SaveOurSpaces over the Government's commitment to amend the gender ground in our equality legislation and include "gender identity" which puts at risk the right of women and girls to single sex spaces.

Programme for Government

FLAC fails to support women's sex-based rights

Women and girls are provided with protection on the grounds of sex under our equality legislation. FLAC has just published guidance for making submissions to the Public Consultation on the review of this legislation. Why have they not mentioned the need to protect the rights of women and girls?

Dublin Rape Crisis Centre

Statistics we can't rely on

Statistics based on self-identified gender identity rather than sex are misleading and unreliable. By contrast a survey based on sex by the Red C polling company for the new grassroots women's group The Countess deserves far greater coverage by the media.

Conversion therapy

What "conversion therapy"is taking place for which we need legislation?

Why are politicians proposing a ban on conversion therapy which includes "gender identity?" Who stands to benefit if health professionals find themselves obliged to "affirm" a child's claimed gender identity and at what cost to children's lifelong health and happiness?

Programme for Government

Amending legislation likely to make women and girls feel more unsafe

Protecting men with a female "gender identity" from discrimination in our equality legislation risks the protection afforded to women and girls currently allowed on the "gender ground", which is defined as male or female

Gender Recognition Act review group

Is "gender recognition" for under 16s in the interests of children?

"Gender recognition" for children "of any age" was rejected by the Government just two years ago but reappeared in the Programme for Government last year. Who has been seeking this and why?

IHREC

Should the Government give men the right to use women's spaces?

If our equality legislation is amended to include "gender identity" it may effectively abolish women's and girl's right to single-sex provision of services or spaces. Why should the demands of some men override the rights of women and girls?

IHREC

When some are more equal than others

The exemption under gender in our equality legislation was clearly provided to protect women and girls. If men claiming to have a female "gender identity" are now to be included, what protection for single-sex facilities will there be in future for women and girls?

IHREC

The IHREC and TENI

The UK's EHRC has withdrawn from Stonewall's Diversity Champions scheme. Is it time that the IHREC in this country cast its net wider as to who it consults with on gender identity issues?

Puberty blockers

The ICGP and TENI

The NHS removed its claim that puberty blockers are reversible in May of last year. Last month the ICGP produced guidance which claimed they were reversible but rapidly changed that last week. The HSE's claim that they are reversible is still online.

Programme for Government

Will State agencies stand up for women's and girl's sex-based rights?

Government proposal may result in replacement of sex with "gender identity" in equality legislation This week has seen Stand Up Awareness Week with BeLonG To, the organisation for young LGBT people in Ireland, providing resources for schools “to take a stand against homophobic, transphobic, and biphobic bullying that

Gender Recognition Act review group Featured

Coalition government's plans

The coalition government is planning to allow children 16+ to legally self-id their gender without the requirement for two specialist reports, examine arrangements for under 16s plus amend equality legislation which may adversely affect women and girls