Micheal Martin is “open to informed debate” on changing the law around self-identification for transgender teens and plans to allocate the issue more funding.
The Taoiseach said the promise is in the Programme for Government agreed between Fianna Fail, Fine Gael and the Greens and that he will honour it in 2022.
He also told how the lack of support for the vulnerable young adults “concerns him” and he will talk to those affected.
Mr Martin, inset, was speaking to reporters in Government Buildings for the annual roundtable interview before Christmas.
He said: “Certainly I’m supportive of and we want to deliver on the Programme for Government’s commitment on 16 and 17. We do need to harness informed opinion on this and expertise in this area. But there are many, many young people who need our help and support out there at the moment but are not getting the level of support they need.”
Mr Martin said young trans people need to be consulted and added: “Many have endured unacceptable bullying in certain situations.
“We need to inform their peers, the wider community, so there is greater acceptance and also greater support for young people who are going through challenging times.”
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