Female genital mutilation must be outlawed, says Labour

WARNINGS from health workers and immigrants that female genital mutilation has taken place in Ireland has led to fresh calls for it to be made a specific criminal offence.

Labour's spokesperson for Health, Liz McManus, who introduced a private member's bill on the issue, repeated her calls for new legislation as health workers and immigrants outlined their concerns at a weekend conference.

"We actually felt that it was important to specify female genital mutilation as an offence to show intent that this was not going to be tolerated here," said Ms McManus, who introduced the bill in 2001.