TRANSGENDER people in Ireland have gained legal recognition of their desired gender due to the passing of a bill by the Oireachtas.
The Gender Recognition Bill was passed on Wednesday enabling transgender people over 18 to change their gender legally without medical intervention.
It is set to be signed into law by the end of July, and will make Ireland the third EU country to allow adults to change their legal gender in this way.
Only Denmark and Malta have previously given transgender people in both countries this legal recognition.
Across Europe the majority of countries require transgender people to undergo surgery and sterilisation, or be diagnosed with a mental disorder and get divorced if they are married, in order to gain legal recognition of their preferred gender.
Sara Phillips, the chair of Transgender Equality Network Ireland, said: "This legislation marks an incredible shift in Irish society ... This is a historic moment for the trans community in Ireland.
"Trans people should be the experts of our own gender identity. Self-determination is at the core of our human rights."
There was previously no legal method through which transgender people in Ireland could change their gender.
Human rights charity Amnesty Ireland welcomed the change and marked the passing of the bill as a "historic day".
Despite campaigners welcoming the new Irish law, concerns exist regarding the restrictions for transgender people aged 16 to 18.
These individuals will require medical observation, parental consent and a court order, whilst further concerns were raised over the lack of legal provision for under-16s.
