The Labour government has extended a ban on puberty blockers in the UK mainland.
The ban, which was originally put in place by the Conservative government in March, was ruled lawful by the High Court last week.
However, Stormont’s Department of Health has confirmed that puberty blockers for children will remain legal in Northern Ireland, unless the whole executive can agree on the issue.
Last year, Sinn Féin MLA Emma Sheerin described the drugs as ‘normal healthcare’, whilst DUP MP Carla Lockhart has said she was shocked at the decision not to ban them in NI, calling it a ‘U Turn’.
Puberty blockers are medication used by children with gender dysphoria – the feeling of dissatisfaction or unease with your original gender.
Some transgender activists say the blockers should be available to children in both the public and private sector, whilst gender critical campaigners fear they will damage children in the long run.
The ban means that Northern Ireland could become a gateway for supplying these drugs into Britain.
What are puberty blockers and are they reversible?
Why has the ban on the medication not been extended in Northern Ireland?
Will the ban protect children, or repress transgender rights?
Olivia Peden is joined by Belfast Telegraph Northern Ireland editor Sam McBride, gender-critical author and Director of Advocacy at Sex Matters Helen Joyce and Policy Manager at the Rainbow Project Alexa Moore.
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Puberty blockers: Northern Ireland’s legal loophole and the debate over child protection
