First Minister Michelle O’Neill has released a statement saying that the extension of a UK-wide ban on puberty blockers in Northern Ireland was a decision “based on clear and unequivocal advice from the Chief Medical Officer.”
The statement comes as a protest was held outside the Sinn Fein headquarters in Dublin on Tuesday over the ban on puberty blockers.
Today's protest outside Sinn Fein in Dublin.
— Gay Not Queer (@Gaynotqueer1) August 27, 2024
Just about what you'd expect. pic.twitter.com/435EcnExLZ
Sinn Féin, who just last summer issued a statement saying it supported an “update to gender recognition laws in the North to be harmonised with the south,” has received criticism from supporters in the wake of the news that a temporary ban on the prescription and supply of puberty blockers would be extended to Northern Ireland.
Amid controversy from supporters over Michelle O’Neill’s sign-off on the ban, the party released a statement on Tuesday night in which she claimed, “We want the best medical support for children and young people who need trans healthcare.”
“Following safety concerns being raised regarding the long-term effects of puberty blockers, a temporary 3 months suspension has been put in place based on clear and unequivocal advice from the Chief Medical Officer,” a statement published on the party’s website read.
“We want the best possible medical support for children and young people who need trans healthcare,” Michelle O’Neill said, adding:
“The three-month temporary suspension of puberty blockers for children and young people is based on clear and unequivocal advice from the Chief Medical Officer pending review.
“Children, parents and clinicians need to have full confidence in the effectiveness and safety of medical treatments. Health care and clinical decisions need to be based on scientific and medical evidence.”
Socialist Councillor for Castleknock, Cllr Ruth Coppinger, who supported Tuesday’s protest at the Sinn Féin HQ, stated that: “The trans community is clearly angry at the decision made from Sinn Fein in particular, and massive pressure needs to be put on them to overturn this ban.”
During a speech at the protest, Coppinger claimed that the decision was “purely for political reasons,” also claiming that the party had “been going in one direction, and the direction is more to the right, leaning into racist ideas, leaning into the ideas of the far right and religious right, and now leaning into anti-trans and anti-LGBT ideas.”
Great protest outside Sinn Fein Headquarters on Parnell Square today in solidarity with the trans community .
— Ruth Coppinger (@RuthCoppingerSP) August 27, 2024
Sinn Fein must be under massive pressure on this issue.
All out for the @ROSABelfast protest tonight at 5:30 at Belfast City Hall. pic.twitter.com/V0oYnn7Y29
A small protest highlighting the decision was also held outside Belfast City Hall on Tuesday night.
In May, the British government tightened rules on the drugs, ushering in an emergency ban on them being prescribed by private and European prescribers in the wake of the Cass Review.
The landmark report concluded that there was not a reliable evidence-base to make clinical decisions about the use of “puberty blockers” to treat gender dysphoria.
Paediatrician Dr Hilary Cass concluded that, owing to the potential risks to patients’ neurocognitive and psychosexual development and longer-term bone health, such drugs should only be offered on the basis of a research protocol.
Meanwhile, the HSE has asked its newly appointed clinical lead for transgender services to review the Cass report and the UK’s response to the publication.
Last week, Northern Ireland’s Department of Health announced that the province is now included in the UK Government’s temporary ban on the private sale and supply of the puberty-suppressing hormones. The ban came into effect on Tuesday, 27th August.
BBC News NI reported that the issue was dealt with by way of urgent procedure, with the order signed off by the first and deputy first ministers, Michelle O’Neill and Emma Little Pengelly, without wider executive approval.
“In light of the findings of the independent Cass Review, and to close potential loopholes that could be exploited by not having a UK-wide legislative approach on this matter, Minister Nesbitt concluded that NI should align with GB,” the government department said in a statement.
The Department continued: “The Cass Review found that there is not a reliable evidence-base upon which to make clinical decisions about the use of “puberty blockers” to treat gender dysphoria/incongruence, or for children and their families to make informed choices.
“The Cass Review concluded that because of the limited evidence, and potential risks to patient safety with regards neurocognitive development, psychosexual development and longer-term bone health, these medicines should only be offered for this purpose under a research protocol.
“The safety of patients is paramount, and the Department will continue to work with DHSC and the other UK administrations to consider the development and implementation of permanent solutions.”
Just last month, Sinn Féin was slammed online for its decision to hold a fundraiser for the organisation Mermaids, because of the group’s insistence that children with gender dysphoria should be able to access puberty blockers, and other controversies.
Meanwhile, Health Spokesperson for the DUP, MLA Dianne Dodds, said that the decision to extend a ban on puberty blockers to Northern Ireland “is a sensible decision based on expert medical opinion.”
“Our position on the provision of puberty blockers has been clear and given the lack of long-term evidence of their safety it is right that the most cautious approach is taken.
“The move here in Northern Ireland and across the United Kingdom is part of a much wider international trend where many countries have been reviewing such provision in light of more detailed scrutiny of their safety and usage,” Dodds said.
“There was an additional need for action given the introduction in the ban across the rest of the United Kingdom could have seen Northern Ireland being used as an alternative route for people to source these drugs.
“Ensuring that Northern Ireland was part of the UK-wide ban was always the most sensible outcome and I am glad that we have finally arrived at that destination.”