Senator Bacik Welcome's Minister's Commitment to Ban Female Genital Mutilation
21 April 2010
STATEMENT FROM SENATOR IVANA BACIK
Labour Party Seanad Spokesperson on Justice
Wednesday, 21 April 2010
BACIK WELCOMES MINISTER'S COMMITMENT ON A LAW TO BAN FEMALE GENITAL MUTILATION
On Wednesday 21st April, Senator Ivana Bacik introduced the Female Genital Mutilation Bill 2010 on behalf of the Labour Party during private members' time.
Speaking in the Seanad at the conclusion of the debate, Senator Bacik welcomed the support from the Minister for Health and Children for the principle of legislation to ban FGM.
She further welcomed the firm commitment given by the Minister for Health during the debate to publish the heads of a bill to prohibit FGM within three months, before the Seanad rises for the summer recess in July.
Senator Bacik also welcomed the Minister's indication that she would publish the bill itself within six months, and thanked colleagues from both sides of the Seanad for their support for the Labour Bill, the Female Genital Mutilation Bill 2010.
She also paid tribute to the commitment of the many NGOs and state agencies which had worked on developing Ireland's National Plan of Action to address Female Genital Mutilation.
ENDS