Irish Medical Times
Mary Anne Kenny
The text of the new Criminal Justice (Female Genital Mutilation) Bill is being finalised, the Minister for Health has confirmed.
While female genital mutilation is not thought to be widely practised in Ireland, it has been estimated from the 2006 Census that more than 2,500 migrant women living here have been subjected to it, according to AkiDwA, the African and migrant women’s network. The group says that legislation would send out an important signal internationally against the practice.
“The text of the Bill is currently being finalised and Government approval will be sought shortly for the text of the Bill and its publication,” confirmed Minister Mary Harney.
