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.

Delegates to the conference, organised by the Irish Family Planning Association, heard the testimony of one immigrant woman who warned that the practice was being carried out here.

Juliet Imiruaye, from Nigeria and a victim of mutilation, said it was happening within African communities.

While the Irish Nurses Organisation said yesterday it had not received any reports from members, health care workers told the conference that nurses have been approached by women seeking fgm for their daughters.

Majella Darcy, of the immigrant support organisation Comhlamh, said: "They didn't know how to respond or what to say to them, because there are no guidelines."

Female genital mutilation which can include the removal of the clitoris and the labia is a traditional practice among some African tribes.