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

I move amendment No. 16:

In page 22, line 13, to delete "Subsections (4)to (8)" and substitute "Subsections (5)to (8)".

The purpose of this amendment is to rectify an incorrect cross reference in section 20 which enables a person to apply for a declaration of parentage to the Circuit Court in relation to a child born through a donor assisted human production procedure. The reference should correctly be to the requirements of subsection (5) to (8) of section 19. Reference to subsection (4) would suggest that the application must be based on an affidavit sworn by the applicants. However, this is unnecessary as subsection (4) of section 20 requires the application to be granted on evidence. Furthermore, if one of the parents has since died it may not be possible to have an affidavit made by each of them.