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Commencement of Legislation

Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 12 December 2018

Wednesday, 12 December 2018

Ceisteanna (158, 176)

Mary Lou McDonald

Ceist:

158. Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Minister for Health if the commencement of Parts 2 and 3 of the Children and Family Relationships Act 2015 is reliant on enactment of the Assisted Human Reproduction Bill 2017 [52253/18]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Seán Haughey

Ceist:

176. Deputy Seán Haughey asked the Minister for Health when the Children and Family Relationships (Amendment) Bill 2018 and the general scheme of the Assisted Human Reproduction Bill 2017 will be enacted and commenced; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52304/18]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

I propose to take Questions Nos. 158 and 176 together.

The commencement of Parts 2 and 3 of the Children and Family Relationships Act 2015 is not reliant of the enactment of the Assisted Human Reproduction (AHR) legislation. 

The Children and Family Relationships (Amendment) Bill 2018 was enacted on 24 July 2018. This Act was introduced to correct typographical and technical errors in the Children and Family Relationships Act 2015, which will facilitate the subsequent commencement of Parts 2 & 3 of the Act. Parts 2 & 3 of the Children and Family Relationships Act 2015 contain provisions relating to the regulation of donor-assisted human reproduction (DAHR) procedures carried out in the State, including dealing with the rights of children born as a result of those procedures. There are important administrative and operational arrangements to be put in place to facilitate the implementation of Parts 2 & 3, including the establishment of the National Donor-Conceived Person Register and the appointment of authorised persons under the Act. It is my intention that Parts 2 & 3 of the Act will be commenced as soon as possible. 

The Government approved the drafting of a Bill on AHR and associated areas of research in October last year. The General Scheme is published on my Department’s website. The Joint Committee on Health is currently conducting a review of the General Scheme of the Assisted Human Reproduction Bill 2017 as part of the pre-legislative scrutiny process, which began in January of this year. The review is on-going, and the Committee intends to publish its report early in 2019.

The introduction of legislation in relation to AHR and associated research is a priority for me and the process of drafting this Bill will be completed in conjunction with the Office of the Attorney General. As part of this process my officials will ensure that there is coherent interaction between the AHR Bill and Parts 2 & 3 of the Children and Family Relationships Act 2015. However, it is not possible at this time to give a definitive timeline for the completion of the draft Bill and its subsequent passage through the Houses of the Oireachtas.

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