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

Obviously, I understand completely the position of people in Ireland who wish to use donor-assisted reproduction procedures. Each member of the committee has a significant understanding in this regard and obviously wishes to support the very best practice in this area. At this stage of the discussion, it is appropriate for me to state that in respect of the broader regulation of assisted human reproduction, the regulation of clinics and all the details this area involves, which are many, complex and evolving, the appropriate place for such discussions clearly is in the development of the legislation being undertaken by the Department of Health.

As for concerns about the future of donor-assisted human reproduction in Ireland, if one examines the position internationally, when countries moved from anonymous donation to known donation, donor-assisted human reproduction did not stop in those countries. It simply meant that best practice was in place with regard to protecting the interests of the child. While I clearly desire to have a system that is effective and that works, there are a couple of key principles, one of them being a move from anonymous to known donation. I already have spoken about that. As I stated, there is not evidence available from elsewhere that in the longer term, this has been a problem in countries which have moved in this direction. In addition, I have made it clear that a stakeholder meeting is coming up between the Department of Health and the clinics.

I have already spoken with the Minister for Health, Deputy Varadkar, on a transition period. We can examine the length of the transition period so that these issues can be dealt with. The range of concerns the clinics have can be worked through during that transition period, but in terms of the routes to parentage and assigning parentage in this Bill, I have very much taken the approach that it should be known donations rather than anonymous ones.