The Dublin Rape Crisis Centre has called for prison authorities to ensure the safety of all women prisoners, including transgender women, by containing violent women prisoners in a way that protects all women. The issue of housing transgender women in female prisons has been in the spotlight following comments by Taoiseach Leo Varadkar, who said violent transgender women should not be kept with female prisoners. The DRCC acknowledged the right of every adult to declare their gender identity and Irish law recognises that identity, but also highlighted the right of prisoners to safety and security. The Irish Penal Reform Trust and the Irish Council for Civil Liberties have also called for dignity and safety to be paramount in prison housing.
