Mattie McGrath (Tipperary, Independent)
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369. To ask the Minister for Health if an analysis or interdepartmental analysis on the implications of introducing regulations governing posthumous reproduction as provided for in the Joint Committee on Health Report on Pre-Legislative Scrutiny of the General Scheme of the Assisted Human Reproduction Bill has been conducted; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43347/19]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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As the Deputy will be  aware, in October 2017, the Government approved the drafting of a bill on assisted human reproduction (AHR) and associated areas of research, based on the published General Scheme of the Assisted Human Reproduction Bill.  The Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health published the report of its review of the General Scheme on 11 July 2019, as part of the pre-legislative scrutiny process, which began in January 2018.  The Committee makes 11 main recommendations, which include proposals both related to broad policy objectives and more technical amendments.

Posthumous assisted reproduction (PAR) refers to the use of a person’s gametes, or an embryo created with his or her gametes in AHR treatment, after he or she has died.  Part 4 of the General Scheme contains provisions relating to PAR. Under Head 24, a surviving spouse, civil partner, or cohabitant of a deceased person may engage in PAR, subject to certain conditions, only where the deceased had previously consented to PAR.  

The recommendations in the Committee’s report, including those made in relation to PAR, are being considered during the ongoing process of drafting this Bill in conjunction with the Office of the Attorney General.  This process also involves discussions with officials from other Departments on relevant Parts of the General Scheme.