Since the enactment of the Gender Recognition Act 2015, TENI have announced that an overwhelming 1,000 Gender Recognition Certificates have now been officially issued to the trans community in Ireland.

Under current Irish law, anyone over the age of 18 who chooses to identify as Trans can have their chosen male or female gender changed on official documents such as passports or birth certificates without medical intervention.

Following a review process, the legislation was updated last year to remove the barrier requiring a person to change their name through a deed poll. This allows people to keep their names if they so wish but still allowed them to change their gender signifiers.

TENI’s Community Aid Officer, Noah Halpin explained to GCN, “This was achieved through the Gender Recognition Act Review in 2018. By no longer needing a deed poll, prior to applying for a GRC, the financial pressure that came as a result, will be alleviated. This had acted as a barrier for many people and now makes the process much quicker and much more accessible.”

Speaking on the phenomenal uptake of Gender Recognition Certificates TENI said: “Whilst this is a wonderful and positive milestone, TENI continue to work hard to ensure that the Act becomes equally accessible to ALL trans & non-binary people in Ireland.”

Although the 2021 amendment was a welcomed advance in the legislation, many of the review group’s advisements were disregarded. These included recommending that the government should permit access to legal gender recognition to children of all ages.

Under current legislation in Ireland, only those over the age of 18 can legally change their gender while children aged 16 and 17 can only apply to the courts if they have parental consent and medical approval.

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Also omitted from the review group’s recommendations was the provision to recognise non-binary or gender-fluid identities. 

Intersex Ireland also called on the government to heed the recommendations saying, “The government proposals to change the gender recognition act in 2015 ignore the needs of the Intersex community. We urge the government to include the full recommendations of the 2018 review group, which provide full access to Intersex individuals.”

Having achieved the milestone of 1,000 certificates, the person at Client Identity Services responsible for issuing the certificates, Geraldine McGourty retired. 

Acknowledging Geraldine’s outstanding work, TENI said: “Geraldine has been an amazing support to those applying for recognition. TENI continue to hear from members of the community how respectful and supportive Geraldine and her team in Client Identity Services have been. TENI wish Geraldine all the best in her further adventures.”