Legal recognition of gender in Ireland could be in place within a year according to an Independent Senator. Katherine Zappone has published a Bill which would give people who are transgender or intersex full recognition in law.

The Bill is co-sponsored by Senators Jillian Van Turnhout and Fiach MacConghail.

It proposes a process whereby transgender people can apply to have their gender recognised by the State.

Ireland is obliged to provide for such a mechanism in line with the European Convention on Human Rights, following the 2007 High Court decision in the case of Dr Lydia Foy.

Senator Zappone said "I am delighted to have the support of the transgender community for this Bill. Lydia Foy bravely took the legal route, won her case but has been waiting 6 years for a gender recognition law. We cannot delay any longer".

The Senator says the coalition have promised to try and bring the bill into law within a year.