Pádraig Mac Lochlainn (Donegal North East, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I move amendment No. 21:

In page 25, between lines 35 and 36, to insert the following:“(8) A transition period of 12 months, from the date of enactment, shall be allowed for cases where patients have already selected or paid for anonymous sperm donors or have the donation currently in storage in Irish clinics awaiting use in treatment, to complete their treatment cycles.

9) A transition period of 12 months, from the date of enactment, shall be allowed for cases where individuals have already initiated the process of anonymous egg donation, to complete their treatment cycles.

(10) A transition period shall be allowed for cases of treatment involving a DAHR procedure resulting in a sibling child from an anonymous donor for a period of 3 years from the birth of the first child or 3 years from the date of enactment, whichever of the two is longer.”.

There are three separate aspects to what we propose. The first deals with those who have selected or paid for anonymous sperm. We seek that they would be given a further period after the enactment of the legislation to avail of the process on which they have already embarked. It is a very sensitive and difficult process for the hopeful parents involved and the intention is to take account of that. I understand 600 to 700 patients across the country would be prevented from completing their treatment and they are the people addressed in the proposed new section 24(8).

Section 24(9) deals with those who have initiated the process of anonymous egg donation and allows them to complete their treatment cycles. The third subsection deals with having the same donor to produce siblings. We are advised that it would be reasonable to allow three years from the birth of the first child. If the legislation as put forward by the Minister is enacted it would apply to people who engage for the first time in the process, but the intention is to take a compassionate approach to those who have already engaged in the process in recent years in order that they would be allowed to complete the cycle. That is the advice we have been given. We are hopeful the Minister will accept it as it is a very reasonable amendment. It is a compassionate amendment.