Pádraig Mac Lochlainn (Donegal North East, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I move amendment No. 34:

In page 26, between lines 35 and 36, to insert the following:"(8) A transition period of 12 months, from the date of enactment, will be allowed for cases where patients have already selected or paid for anonymous sperm donors or have the donation currently in storage in Irish clinics awaiting use in treatment, to complete their treatment cycles.

(9) A transition period of 12 months, from the date of enactment, will be allowed for cases where individuals have already initiated the process of anonymous egg donation, to complete their treatment cycles.

(10) A transition period will be allowed for cases of treatment resulting in a sibling child from an anonymous donor for a period of 3 years from the birth of the first child or 3 years from the date of enactment, whichever of the two is longer.".

The Minister gave me assurances on this issue on Committee Stage. The only reason I resubmit the amendment is to firm up the assurance that, after the enactment of the legislation, families who have availed of the various types of procedure as outlined in the amendment would have the extra one year. To be fair, the Minister pointed out that the Bill does provide for the sibling issue over the three years. This is really just to firm up that commitment in the House.

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