Jillian van Turnhout (Independent) | Oireachtas source

I thank Ms Fitzpatrick and all the volunteers involved in the National Infertility Support and Information Group. Coming from a volunteering background myself, it is great to see that type of commitment. We might not even be having this discussion if not for their efforts, which speaks to Senator Crown's questions about the numbers employed and the types of services available.

Given that the Commission on Assisted Human Reproduction issued its report in 2005, the issue does arise as to whether its recommendations are still valid. I am not involved in the sector, but it seems reasonable to question whether proposals that were made nine years ago should be re-examined before being implemented.

In advance of this meeting, the issue was raised with me of the situation of thousands of people who are in a legal limbo in respect of the status of embryos produced by the IVF process. Will Ms Fitzpatrick comment on that and perhaps offer the committee some direction on the matter?