Billy Kelleher (Cork North Central, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I welcome the delegates and thank them for their presentations. As the assessment of the general scheme of the assisted human reproduction Bill is ongoing, we want to engage with those who have a professional opinion, but there are also varying views on the issue. In that context, Dr. Wingfield who sat on the commission says she is, by and large, happy with what is proposed in the general scheme of the Bill because it includes all of the recommendations of the commission. Of what expertise did it avail in assessing what it considered was appropriate? Did it look at the position and legislative imprint in other jurisdictions in assessing what should be done here?

Did the commission make comparisons with Europe and elsewhere regarding the regulation of AHR? The reason I ask that is there are varying views on AHR. The US has a liberal, commercialised regime whereas the UK and other European countries have adopted restrictive practices. Within Europe, there is a disparity in legislative underpinning and regulation. Will Ms Wingfield elaborate on the commission's research, recommendations and findings?

The broader issue of surrogacy has been mentioned a lot and the fact that people have to travel abroad. Is that because there are not sufficient surrogates available in this country or is there another reason for that? Is there potential for the exploitation of surrogacy by using women from poor countries? What are the ethical, moral and clinical guidelines to make sure surrogates are observed, have medical support and so on? Given the scheme of the Bill recommends no form of compensation should be made available to surrogates, how does that fit with the requirement to have surrogates for this purpose and to ensure they have resources available to them to look after their own needs, health care and so on?

The issue of financial exploitation is another concern. People go to extraordinary lengths to find alternative medicines to survive if they are diagnosed with a terminal illness and they also to go to extraordinary lengths to conceive or to have a baby. Is the current legislation strong enough or should other provisions be included in same to ensure there is no exploitation through the commercialisation of the fertility industry not only in Ireland but globally? Should we depend on the ethical and moral standards of the clinicians involved or do we need to ensure they are strengthened?

Consanguinity is an issue that is raised sometimes, primarily by people opposed to IVF and AHR, given the potential for sexual relationships with brothers, half brothers, sisters and all that flows from that due to the anonymous nature of the treatment. Is that issue being raised to a level that is unnecessary in this debate or should we be conscious of it in view of that fact that there are varying views on it?

The age profile or limit is 21 to 47. Are the witnesses saying there should be no upper age limit for women, in particular? What should the age be if that is the case? At some stage, women can no longer conceive naturally. Where is the boundary in this regard? Recently, a woman in Italy who was approaching her 70s was impregnated and had a child. Is there a medical cut-off point at which it becomes dangerous for both the baby and the woman carrying the baby? In the age of surrogacy, what age limits should be applied in that context?