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Assisted Human Reproduction

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 2 November 2021

Tuesday, 2 November 2021

Ceisteanna (959, 980, 1018, 1104, 1157)

Gino Kenny

Ceist:

959. Deputy Gino Kenny asked the Minister for Health if he has consulted with or has plans to meet and invite input into the draft legislation from Irish families through surrogacy; his views on the fact that these families are dealing with the daily implications of the legal limbo they are living through in the absence of any legislation and are best placed to help inform legislation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52674/21]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Eoin Ó Broin

Ceist:

980. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Health if in relation to the assisted human reproduction Bill, it is intended to legislate for international surrogacy; when legislation recognising international surrogacy and retrospective declaration of parentage will be complete; and if his Department will engage with an organisation (details supplied) on this proposed legislation. [52746/21]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Catherine Connolly

Ceist:

1018. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Health if he will clarify recent reports that international surrogacy will be excluded from the upcoming assisted human reproduction Bill (details supplied); when legislation recognising international surrogacy alongside retrospective declaration of parentage will be published; if a group will have input into the draft legislation to ensure no child is left behind; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52915/21]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Pauline Tully

Ceist:

1104. Deputy Pauline Tully asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 356 of 21 October 2021, the timeframe for publication of the Bill on assisted human reproduction; the steps he has taken to consult with stakeholders including the AHR community regarding the Bill; if the Bill will encompass international surrogacy; if not, the reason; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53285/21]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Róisín Shortall

Ceist:

1157. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health if he will address matters raised in correspondence (details supplied). [53395/21]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

I propose to take Questions Nos. 959, 980, 1018, 1104 and 1157 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. This legislation encompasses the regulation for the first time of a wide range of practices undertaken in this jurisdiction, including domestic altruistic surrogacy. 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 to the intending parent(s). Publication of the AHR Bill 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”. This Department will continue to engage intensively with the Office of the Attorney General in order to finalise this complex legislation. The draft Bill does not contain provisions to regulate surrogacy arrangements undertaken in other jurisdictions, nor does it provide for retrospective declarations of parentage. Issues which arise from the undertaking of surrogacy arrangements in other jurisdictions and the assignment of retrospective parentage concern areas of law that intersect across the remits of several Government Departments and require detailed examination. My Department is engaging with the Department of Justice and the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth in respect of these matters. On my request officials in my Department met with the stakeholders to which you refer.

Question No. 960 answered with Question No. 777.
Question No. 961 answered with Question No. 777.
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