Ms Geraldine Luddy:

Yes, we are very mindful of that. When we devised the scheme, we looked at court cases both here and abroad in order to consider how we would seek consent. It is informed consent, so people must have information in order to give consent. There will be counselling as well beforehand. Whether it is a couple involved or a single woman, there will be full counselling at every stage. Counselling will give options on what happens after the embryos are created, including what would happen if a relationship breaks up or if there is a donated gamete. If the embryo is created by donated sperm, the donor would also have to give consent. We have covered it very clearly, including all the options as to what would happen in the event of a break-up or somebody dying. That is covered in as much as we can.

We are also conscious that we have a new data protection directive coming, which must be in law by May this year. There are specific provisions there relating to informed consent and we have taken those into account in the drafting of the scheme. We will also be drafting the Bill provisions with the Office of the Attorney General and we will make sure that consent provisions are as tight as they can be.