Brian Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)

It is a matter for the Government to appoint to the Committee of the Regions. In the first instance, it is a matter for the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government to bring proposals to Government, and that has yet to be done. With regard to the writ for a by-election, the Government has not made any decision on its timing.

As I said yesterday, we will have to examine the impact of yesterday's Supreme Court decision. The Commission on Assisted Human Reproduction brought forward about 40 recommendations. This legal case will now have to be factored in to whatever work is ongoing in the Department of Health and Children. This is such a complex ethical issue, I would ask that the widest possible consensus be obtained in the House and the relevant committees in order to make progress on it.

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