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Legislative Programme

Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 19 January 2022

Wednesday, 19 January 2022

Questions (1792, 1917, 1918)

Denis Naughten

Question:

1792. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Health when legislation will be published dealing with international surrogacy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1842/22]

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Róisín Shortall

Question:

1917. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health the status of plans to establish a special joint Oireachtas committee on international surrogacy; if he has brought the proposal to Cabinet; the timescale he is working towards; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2460/22]

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Róisín Shortall

Question:

1918. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health if he plans to publish the assisted human reproduction Bill ahead of the proposed special Oireachtas committee on international surrogacy completing its work; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2461/22]

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Written answers

I propose to take Questions Nos. 1792, 1917 and 1918 together.

As the Deputy will be aware, drafting of a bill on assisted human reproduction (AHR) and associated areas of research is ongoing by officials in my Department, in conjunction with the Office of the Attorney General. This legislation encompasses the regulation for the first time of a wide range of practices undertaken in this jurisdiction, including domestic altruistic surrogacy.

Publication of the Bill is a priority for the Government and officials in my Department and the Office of the Attorney General are continuing to engage intensively in order to finalise this complex and far-reaching legislation. I expect to be in a position to bring a Memorandum to Government seeking approval to publish the Bill in the coming weeks.

The draft Bill does not contain provisions to regulate surrogacy arrangements undertaken in other jurisdictions. Issues which arise from the undertaking of surrogacy arrangements in other jurisdictions concern areas of law that intersect across the remits of several Government Departments and require detailed examination. Therefore, a joint Memorandum from Minister McEntee, Minister O’Gorman and I proposing the establishment of a time-limited Special Joint Oireachtas Committee to consider the issue of international surrogacy is being submitted to Cabinet today. If approved, this Committee is to report with recommendations within three months of establishment and I shall have regard to its work as the AHR Bill progresses through the Houses of the Oireachtas.

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