Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 2 May 2024
251. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health the timeline he is working towards in commencing Report Stage of the Health (Assisted Human Reproduction) Bill 2022; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19911/24]
View answerAs the Deputy is aware, Committee Stage in respect of the Health (Assisted Human Reproduction) Bill 2022 was completed on 6th March 2024. The text of the Bill as amended by the Select Committee on Health was published on 22nd April 2024 on the Oireachtas website: data.oireachtas.ie/ie/oireachtas/bill/2022/29/eng/ver_a/b29a22d.pdf.
I can assure the Deputy that finalising the Bill is a priority and intensive work is ongoing to achieve this. I am not in a position to provide definitive timelines. However, I am hopeful that Report Stage can commence this month, subject to the completion of the drafting of any further required amendments and Oireachtas scheduling. I also intend to hold a further technical briefing session for Select Committee members prior to Report Stage.
Finally, I wish to reiterate my commitment to ensuring both that the goal of providing for a route to formal recognition by the State of past surrogacy arrangements or surrogacy arrangements in other jurisdictions is achieved and that a robust regulatory framework for AHR (assisted human reproduction) more broadly is put in place, as quickly as possible.
