Kathleen Funchion (Carlow-Kilkenny, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I thank the witnesses for their presentations. I was glad to read the point in relation to the funding because I felt last week that although it was not being explicitly said by the Department of Health, there certainly was an inclination that potentially this committee and the work we have to do would delay the Health (Assisted Human Reproduction) Bill when pre-legislative scrutiny was in 2017. As was said in the witness's document, 2019 was the last time there were any discussions with the witnesses and with some of the stakeholders. It was a bit disingenuous of it to try to indicate that all of a sudden there is a big panic about it, just because this committee is in place. I have no questions in regard to that but I just wanted to say I was glad to see that.

In regard to the discussion we had earlier on pre-birth versus post-birth, I was glad to see in the document the view I share of either at-birth or pre-birth. I know the witnesses have some information in regard to that but from their practical experience, are there reasons they would advocate a pre-birth or at-birth parental link?

I have a practical question to which I might know the answer but I want to ask it. In regard to a surrogate having previous pregnancies, is that to see how somebody’s health and well-being is during a pregnancy? I also wish to make the point that in the list of expenses I was glad to see childcare and life insurance were mentioned because they are things that are sometimes overlooked. They were really good points. I wanted to agree with that. I thought the briefing document was very good. I agree with a huge amount of the information in it, so I do not have many questions except for that point on the pre-birth, post-birth, at-birth parental situation. We need to advocate a model for pre-birth, as it is in the best interests of everybody. Will the witnesses give their views on that, and on the issue of previous pregnancies? Those are all my questions for now.