Results 46,321-46,340 of 49,836 for speaker:Stephen Donnelly

Written Answers — Department of Health: Hospital Staff (19 Jun 2024)

Stephen Donnelly: As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible.

Seanad: Health (Assisted Human Reproduction) Bill 2022: Committee Stage (20 Jun 2024)

Stephen Donnelly: I thank the Senators for submitting this group of amendments. On amendment No. 1, I do not agree with the premise that an adoption application involving a child not genetically related is exactly the same as a surrogacy application involving a potential child who will be genetically related to at least one of the intending parents or possibly both of them. I am satisfied that we have the...

Seanad: Health (Assisted Human Reproduction) Bill 2022: Committee Stage (20 Jun 2024)

Stephen Donnelly: I thank both Senators. As I said in my initial remarks, the concerns Senator Keogan very reasonably raised are already covered. It is not the case that there are no safeguards in place and that this would be inserting a safeguard at the last minute. There are, as I am sure she would support, numerous safeguards that would pick up not just on the offence she listed but much more broadly....

Seanad: Health (Assisted Human Reproduction) Bill 2022: Committee Stage (20 Jun 2024)

Stephen Donnelly: As previously stated, the Bill makes it clear that the surrogate mother has the same rights as any other woman has during her pregnancy.

Seanad: Health (Assisted Human Reproduction) Bill 2022: Committee Stage (20 Jun 2024)

Stephen Donnelly: I seek the Acting Chairperson's guidance. The question Senator Mullen has raised is not covered in the amendments we are currently discussing but it is covered in the group comprising amendments Nos. 21, 26 and 33, which we will discuss later. Should we wait to discuss the Senator's question until we reach the amendments relevant to it?

Seanad: Health (Assisted Human Reproduction) Bill 2022: Committee Stage (20 Jun 2024)

Stephen Donnelly: I am happy to do it now. I am speaking to amendment No. 21 but I accept the point that it is related to the current amendments. Amendment No. 21 from Senators Mullen and Keogan would essentially mean the mother identified on the parenting order is not the genetic mother of the child and the father identified on the parenting order is not the genetic father of the child. My interpretation...

Seanad: Health (Assisted Human Reproduction) Bill 2022: Committee Stage (20 Jun 2024)

Stephen Donnelly: I guess it depends on one's definition. I have rarely met anyone who is anti-life. Surrogacy creates more children, children who otherwise would not exist. It creates more mums and dads and creates more wonderful families - that is what it does. While I have taken great exception to the Senator’s characterisation of the pro-life debate, I respect everyone's view on termination of...

Seanad: Health (Assisted Human Reproduction) Bill 2022: Committee Stage (20 Jun 2024)

Stephen Donnelly: I did not.

Seanad: Health (Assisted Human Reproduction) Bill 2022: Committee Stage (20 Jun 2024)

Stephen Donnelly: I did not sneer. To be clear, I am not sneering, not at all.

Seanad: Health (Assisted Human Reproduction) Bill 2022: Committee Stage (20 Jun 2024)

Stephen Donnelly: No, I am fine.

Seanad: Health (Assisted Human Reproduction) Bill 2022: Committee Stage (20 Jun 2024)

Stephen Donnelly: I thank the Senators for submitting these amendments. However, all three amendments appear to relate to surrogacy whereas the relevant sections each proposes to amend are not primarily or at all concerned with surrogacy. Maybe the intention was to insert them in a different part of the Bill. Amendment No. 5 seeks to amend section 20, which is concerned with the consent of donors of...

Seanad: Health (Assisted Human Reproduction) Bill 2022: Committee Stage (20 Jun 2024)

Stephen Donnelly: The question has nothing whatsoever to do with the amendments. Should we proceed?

Seanad: Health (Assisted Human Reproduction) Bill 2022: Committee Stage (20 Jun 2024)

Stephen Donnelly: As previously stated, the surrogate will have exactly the same rights as any other woman who is pregnant.

Seanad: Health (Assisted Human Reproduction) Bill 2022: Committee Stage (20 Jun 2024)

Stephen Donnelly: The surrogate will have exactly the same rights as any woman who is pregnant. In the same way that no person can interfere with any pregnant woman in terms of the choices she makes, the same situation will apply to the surrogate.

Seanad: Health (Assisted Human Reproduction) Bill 2022: Committee Stage (20 Jun 2024)

Stephen Donnelly: Does the Senator wish to give us an example? It is quite a theoretical question

Seanad: Health (Assisted Human Reproduction) Bill 2022: Committee Stage (20 Jun 2024)

Stephen Donnelly: The Senator might be able to give an example. All I can say is that the surrogate mother has exactly the same rights as any pregnant woman. The only part of the surrogacy agreement which is enforceable is in respect of reasonable expenses.

Seanad: Health (Assisted Human Reproduction) Bill 2022: Committee Stage (20 Jun 2024)

Stephen Donnelly: I want to start by acknowledging the Labour Party's support for this Bill. It is very welcome. However, I think descending into name-calling is unfortunate and personalising it in that way is deeply unfortunate. I disagree entirely with how the Senator has just characterised the discussion she and I are having. I know that when I was in opposition, for years and years I tried to convince...

Seanad: Health (Assisted Human Reproduction) Bill 2022: Committee Stage (20 Jun 2024)

Stephen Donnelly: I would say to Senator Sherlock that it is typically not possible to turn around a Government amendment that quickly. I spent many years in opposition, and I have tabled God knows how many amendments. As we all know, the Opposition amendments do not have to go through the same legal rigour. There is a process in place whereby we must have drafters and we must take legal advice in the...

Seanad: Health (Assisted Human Reproduction) Bill 2022: Committee Stage (20 Jun 2024)

Stephen Donnelly: I will address this one more time. What Senator Sherlock stated is simply false. The Senator stated that some of the people she has referenced - and I have not used any names in here - were not consulted. I can tell the Senator categorically there was extensive consultation with at least one of the people she referenced. It was an extensive consultation. Unfortunately, it is not true...

Seanad: Health (Assisted Human Reproduction) Bill 2022: Committee Stage (20 Jun 2024)

Stephen Donnelly: I can imagine that there will be quite a bit of debate on section 51. Before starting it could we take a short break?