Solicitor and LGBT organisation chief to review Gender Recognition Act

A solicitor who heads a national LGBT youth organisation has been appointed to chair the group reviewing the Gender Recognition Act 2015.

Moninne Griffith, executive director of BeLonG To Youth Services, has over 20 years’ experience in the fields of advocacy, law and social justice.

Social Protection Minister Regina Doherty named Ms Griffith as chair and revealed that Sara Phillips, Seamus Byrne and Dr Tanya Ní Mhuirthile would join the review group.

Ms Phillips is chair of the Transgender Equality Network of Ireland (TENI), while Mr Byrne is a young trans activist and Dr Ní Mhuirthile teaches at DCU School of Law and Government.

The full membership of the group will be announced within days.

The review group will consider issues such as gender recognition for children younger than 16 years of age; arrangements for 16 and 17 year olds; and the position of non-binary and intersex persons.

Ms Doherty said: “Moninne Griffith’s professional background and her current work make her an ideal person to chair the Gender Recognition Act Review Group. I am grateful to her for agreeing to chair the Group.”

Ms Griffith added: “I was honoured to be offered the role of Chair of the Review Group. I look forward to working with the many individuals and groups who have views and a vision of what the 2015 Act can deliver.”

It is intended that the review will be completed by end of May 2018.