Frances Fitzgerald (Dublin Mid West, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I have one further point. This discussion illustrates the very broad range of issues in relation to AHR and all of its complexities. We are the first Government to begin to address this issue and we are, I repeat, addressing some aspects of it regarding parentage in this legislation. However, there are many issues which will need much more detailed work and consultation because there are so many aspects to the area. It is primarily a Department of Health area. I think everyone would agree with this.

The issue of identity is far greater than medical history. This is the reason all best practice suggests that all of the information about the donor should be made available to the child at a later stage. The intention is that as much medical history and information as possible would be made available. If we move from anonymous donation to known donation, the donor is making the decision in a different way because he or she is making it with the knowledge that the information is going to be made available when the child is 18 years of age. This, as well as the question of ongoing provision of information, changes the perspective and the decision the person is making.

Many of these issues are related to the broader discussion on AHR. The current policy from the Department of Health is as I have advised. This is why this section of the Bill is drafted as it is.