Bernard Allen
Question:240 Mr. Allen asked the Minister for Health and Children the plans, if any, he has to introduce legislation governing egg donation in fertility programmes. [26785/99]
Written Answers. - Fertility Programmes.
Bernard Allen
Question:266 Mr. Allen asked the Minister for Health and Children the plans, if any, he has to set up a confidential register of all egg donors to fertility programmes to allow off-spring to check that they are not related to others in the event of future marriage and for data on inherited diseases. [27034/99]
Minister for Health and Children (Mr. Cowen): I propose to take Questions Nos. 240 and 266 together.
The issues raised by the Deputy are ones which come within the domain of assisted human reproduction. As such this embraces a wide range of very sensitive and complex issues with associated legal, ethical, social and medical implications. I intend to bring forward proposals to Government early in the new year in order to begin to address this complex area.