Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I do not have a personal view on the use of the terms "PGT-A", "PGT-M" and "PGT-SR". This is way beyond my scientific knowledge. I understand that at least one of the people involved has a view that we should keep the previous naming because it future-proofs it. I appreciate that this is exactly what the Deputy is trying to do. I asked the officials to look into it and consult more broadly. The very clear advice they got back was that this is the best way to go. In addition to that, in order to try to future-proof it, within the definition of pre-implantation genetic testing we have added a provision for potential new types of PGT to be prescribed by the Minister in consultation with the AHRRA. In other words, it can be future-proofed through regulations or a statutory instrument. I do not have a personal view. The advice the officials received strongly was to stick with this and then add in the clause so that we can do it through regulation. That is what I am going with.

Regarding the Deputy's second point, there is a lot of merit in giving the AHRRA some scope to define the genetic counsellors or specialists. We have very few of them here. It is a very small population base. If we are to do it, we will need a very clear structure in terms of clinical governance guidelines and mutual recognition. It is more complex now with Brexit, for example. We have obviously have mutual recognition with the UK on all manner of different healthcare issues. I have asked the officials to work with the various clinical governance groups to see what would be an appropriate framework to put in place. We will look at the broad point the Deputy is making around whether we can give the AHRRA, or some other appropriate body such as the Medical Council, the power to say "yes, we recognise the following qualifications in the UK or the EU and they fall under the auspices of this".