Results 46,361-46,380 of 49,836 for speaker:Stephen Donnelly

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (26 Jun 2024)

Stephen Donnelly: Well said.

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (26 Jun 2024)

Stephen Donnelly: Hear, hear.

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (26 Jun 2024)

Stephen Donnelly: I thank the Deputy for her words. We launched the inquiry this morning. These families have fought for many years to get the truth. They will now get the truth. We have appointed the independent chair. She will be an excellent chair and will bring a robust set of skills and experiences to this. First and foremost, the inquiry will put the voices and experiences of the families - the...

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (26 Jun 2024)

Stephen Donnelly: I thank the Deputy for her question. I pay tribute to the work that our psychiatric nurses do right across this country. This Government, including myself and the Minister of State, Deputy Butler, is deadly serious about the expansion of mental health services. The budget in that regard has increased by several hundred million euro in the lifetime of this Government. I will be the...

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (26 Jun 2024)

Stephen Donnelly: I thank the Deputy for raising this issue. It can be an issue for families, particularly when they are already dealing with all the trauma and difficulty of undergoing cancer treatment. It can be a difficult time. We have taken important steps, some of which were called for by the Irish Cancer Society. Probably the biggest it called for was the abolition of inpatient charges. That is now...

Seanad: Health (Assisted Human Reproduction) Bill 2022: Committee Stage (Resumed) and Remaining Stages (26 Jun 2024)

Stephen Donnelly: We have not been speaking to any of the sections, so I will need time to read the section and respond. We have just been going amendment by amendment. We will have to take this slowly, read the amendments, get the detailed notes and respond, if that is okay with everybody.

Seanad: Health (Assisted Human Reproduction) Bill 2022: Committee Stage (Resumed) and Remaining Stages (26 Jun 2024)

Stephen Donnelly: I understand. In respect of specific questions on the individual sections, I want to make sure we give the Senator-----

Seanad: Health (Assisted Human Reproduction) Bill 2022: Committee Stage (Resumed) and Remaining Stages (26 Jun 2024)

Stephen Donnelly: I understand. The Senator is asking a question about the section, which he is perfectly entitled to do.

Seanad: Health (Assisted Human Reproduction) Bill 2022: Committee Stage (Resumed) and Remaining Stages (26 Jun 2024)

Stephen Donnelly: I fully accept that. I am not questioning that whatsoever. We have very clear speaking notes, amendment by amendment, which allow me to respond very quickly. The Senator is asking a question about the section. I want to make sure I give him a correct answer. Therefore, I will have to take a moment to read the section.

Seanad: Health (Assisted Human Reproduction) Bill 2022: Committee Stage (Resumed) and Remaining Stages (26 Jun 2024)

Stephen Donnelly: I do not mean that we should suspend. I think we need to keep going. I want to make sure I have an answer.

Seanad: Health (Assisted Human Reproduction) Bill 2022: Committee Stage (Resumed) and Remaining Stages (26 Jun 2024)

Stephen Donnelly: If it works for the Senator, I can ask the Department to come back to him with a detailed note, if we want to keep moving through the sections. Alternatively, I am more than happy to endeavour to answer the question now. Whatever works-----

Seanad: Health (Assisted Human Reproduction) Bill 2022: Committee Stage (Resumed) and Remaining Stages (26 Jun 2024)

Stephen Donnelly: I think there are two different questions here. One relates to embryos that are created and the second deals with the case of posthumous donor assisted human reproduction where one of the intending parents dies. On the first, any embryos created would be treated in exactly the same way they are now and have been for many years. There are embryos created through IVF and through existing...

Seanad: Health (Assisted Human Reproduction) Bill 2022: Committee Stage (Resumed) and Remaining Stages (26 Jun 2024)

Stephen Donnelly: It depends. In the case of a man and a woman, if the embryo has a genetic link to the man and the man dies and if there is a posthumous agreement in place going into IVF, it is their choice to decide what they want to do in the case of one of them passing away. If they do sign something authorising their partner to continue with assisted human reproduction in the case of their death, if it...

Seanad: Health (Assisted Human Reproduction) Bill 2022: Committee Stage (Resumed) and Remaining Stages (26 Jun 2024)

Stephen Donnelly: Is the Senator asking what happens if he is the one who dies?

Seanad: Health (Assisted Human Reproduction) Bill 2022: Committee Stage (Resumed) and Remaining Stages (26 Jun 2024)

Stephen Donnelly: It is a man, donor assisted,-----

Seanad: Health (Assisted Human Reproduction) Bill 2022: Committee Stage (Resumed) and Remaining Stages (26 Jun 2024)

Stephen Donnelly: -----with no other partner involved and he dies.

Seanad: Health (Assisted Human Reproduction) Bill 2022: Committee Stage (Resumed) and Remaining Stages (26 Jun 2024)

Stephen Donnelly: The embryo would be disposed of in the same way that they are through IVF surrogacy now and have been for many years.

Seanad: Health (Assisted Human Reproduction) Bill 2022: Committee Stage (Resumed) and Remaining Stages (26 Jun 2024)

Stephen Donnelly: I thank the Senator for his questions. As he has read out, the regulatory authority will have very broad powers in determining the appropriateness of the applicants for surrogacy.As was absolutely clear through the draft legislation, it is the safety of the child which comes first and foremost. I have been told that there is a misunderstanding circulating on social media, for example,...

Seanad: Health (Assisted Human Reproduction) Bill 2022: Committee Stage (Resumed) and Remaining Stages (26 Jun 2024)

Stephen Donnelly: Many different issues have been raised and I will endeavour to go through them. I will start by making a point on some of the comments made around the rights or suitability of two men or two women to raise a child. People have their own view and I will not try to dissuade anyone of their views; they are what they are. I will say in a personal capacity and as Minister for Health and a...

Seanad: Health (Assisted Human Reproduction) Bill 2022: Committee Stage (Resumed) and Remaining Stages (26 Jun 2024)

Stephen Donnelly: Senator Ruane made the point that there may be people who are carrying offences, such as a minor drugs possession charge from years ago. She made the point that there could be prejudicial assessment against people from lower-income families or communities. That is exactly why we are giving the regulatory authority the powers to assess on a case-by-case basis but they are assessing based on...