Dáil debates

Wednesday, 11 July 2018

Children and Family Relationships (Amendment) Bill 2018: Committee and Remaining Stages

 

7:55 pm

Photo of Louise O'ReillyLouise O'Reilly (Dublin Fingal, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I share the concerns expressed. I have also been contacted by families impacted by this. I have had my own experience of getting recognition for my own small family unit. Deputy Donnelly has made a helpful suggestion. This is in no way meant personally towards any person sitting here but the intention is to keep pressure on for a group of people who feel they have been left behind. We do not want to do anything that will delay the progress of the assisted human reproduction legislation because it is also extremely important. We also need to hear if that commitment is forthcoming, how it will work and whether we can schedule it. Obviously we cannot schedule it at this stage. It is a matter for the Business Committee as all these matters are.

We are in receipt of a large number of representations from people who, for all sorts of reasons to do with drafting and human error, are affected. We know all of those reasons and we are not pointing any fingers because we have all managed human error in our time. There has to be something that will give something to the people out there who are not encompassed by this legislation. I appreciate there is a huge amount of confusion on this. I want to get on with the business of processing the assisted human reproduction legislation because it will address much of this. We are also dealing with people who have waited three years and they are not convinced if this is let slide that we will see the sort of progress we need. Sinn Féin wants to hear what the Minister has to say and we will make our decision on that basis.

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