Vol. 483 No. 1
174 Mr. Callely asked the Minister for Health and Children if his attention has been drawn to difficulties arising from surrogate mothers; if his attention has been drawn to legal complications in this regard; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19746/97]
175 Mr. Callely asked the Minister for Health and Children the procedures, if any, which are carried out in relation to reproductive medicine and techniques; the safeguards in place in this regard; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19747/97]
176 Mr. Callely asked the Minister for Health and Children if he will list the hospitals which practice or refer patients for procedures and techniques to be carried out in order to assist in reproduction; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19748/97]
177 Mr. Callely asked the Minister for Health and Children the current treatment available to address infertility; if the treatment of assisted reproduction raises issues of concern for his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19749/97]
178 Mr. Callely asked the Minister for Health and Children the rights and status of children born as a result of embryo implantation; the issues, if any, taken into consideration in this regard; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19750/97]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 174, 175, 176, 177 and 178 together.
Assisted reproduction is not available within the public hospital service. Accordingly, persons who undergo such treatment do so in a private capacity. In vitro fertilisation treatment is, I understand, provided on this basis at the human assisted reproduction unit at the Rotunda Hospital and at University College Hospital, Galway. These services operate under the guidelines in relation to such treatment issued by the Institute of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists of the Royal College of Surgeons of Ireland and approved by Medical Council. The Well Woman Centre provides a donor insemination service using imported semen in accordance with the UK guidelines of the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority.
The Deputy will appreciate that proposals in relation to assisted human reproduction raise significant legal and ethical issues. I am of the view that a careful examination of the full range of matters in this complex area is needed and I am currently considering how best these might be addressed.
