Assisted Human Reproduction

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 28 September 2021

Tuesday, 28 September 2021

Ceisteanna (611, 747, 748, 750, 803, 804, 806, 808, 816)

Emer Higgins

Ceist:

611. Deputy Emer Higgins asked the Minister for Health the status of the assisted human reproduction Bill; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45986/21]

Dara Calleary

Ceist:

747. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Health his plans to progress the Assisted Human Reproduction Bill 2017; his planned timeline in relation to the Bill; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46384/21]

Niall Collins

Ceist:

748. Deputy Niall Collins asked the Minister for Health if an update will be provided on a matter (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46385/21]

Brendan Griffin

Ceist:

750. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Health if advice will be provided on a matter (details supplied) in relation to assisted human reproduction; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46436/21]

Mark Ward

Ceist:

803. Deputy Mark Ward asked the Minister for Health his plans to introduce legislation for assisted human reproduction specifically the surrogacy section; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46667/21]

Mark Ward

Ceist:

804. Deputy Mark Ward asked the Minister for Health his plans to address issues regarding surrogacy (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46668/21]

Noel Grealish

Ceist:

806. Deputy Noel Grealish asked the Minister for Health the current status of the assisted human reproduction Bill which was listed under priority legislation for publication in the summer session 2021; when the Bill is likely to be published and brought before the Houses of the Oireachtas; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46671/21]

Ged Nash

Ceist:

808. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Health if he will provide an update on assisted human reproduction Bill; the steps he is taking to create a legislative framework to govern surrogacy in Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46688/21]

Jennifer Carroll MacNeill

Ceist:

816. Deputy Jennifer Carroll MacNeill asked the Minister for Health the status of the assisted human reproduction Bill; the timeline for the publishing of this Bill; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46728/21]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Health

I propose to take Questions Nos. 611, 747, 748, 750, 803, 804, 806, 808 and 816 together.

As the Deputies 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. I can assure the Deputy that publication of this legislation is a priority for my Department and the Government, and a commitment to enact this legislation is included in the Programme for Government, “Our Shared Future”. My Department and the Office of the Attorney General continue to prioritise the drafting of this complex legislation and will engage intensively over the next few months to finalise the Bill.

The AHR legislation encompasses the regulation, for the first time in Ireland, of a wide range of practices, including domestic altruistic surrogacy, as well as: gamete (sperm or egg) and embryo donation for AHR and research; pre-implantation genetic diagnosis (PGD) of embryos; posthumous assisted reproduction; and embryo and stem cell research. The legislation also provides for the establishment of an independent regulatory authority for AHR.

The surrogacy provisions of the Bill outline the specific conditions under which surrogacy in Ireland will be permitted, including a requirement for all surrogacy agreements to be pre-authorised by the new AHR Regulatory Authority. The legislation also sets out a court-based mechanism through which the parentage of a child born through surrogacy may be transferred from the surrogate (and her husband, if applicable) to the intending parent(s).

Overall, the provisions outlined within the Bill will ensure that AHR practices and related areas of research are conducted in a more consistent and standardised way and with the necessary oversight.