Transgender Activists Sit In At Department Of Health

This Is Me, a group of transgender healthcare activists, are currently holding an impromptu sit-in at the Department of Health.

The group is voicing grievances pertaining to the quality of transgender healthcare in Ireland and Minister of Health Simon Harris' failure to meet with the group yet, despite publically voicing assurances that he would.

“We have played political niceties for well over a year now, but there comes a time when patience wear thin. Simon Harris has agreed to meet with us on multiple occasions, through multiple channels and he has not yet followed through on this commitment," said Noah Halpin, founder of This Is Me.

"Trans-specific healthcare in Ireland is at crisis point. And this is being largely ignored. People are dying because of this. We have viable solutions."

In Ireland, waitlists to access Hormone Replacement Therapy span an average of 29 to 35 months. Ireland is not currently adhering to International Best Practice, according to the World Professional Association for Transgender Health, and a 2017 report by the Irish Commission for Human Rights and Health found that transgender healthcare in Ireland is in violation of the European Social Charter.

The activists have committed to continuing the sit-in at the Department of Health until their meeting with Harris is confirmed.