Results 601-620 of 5,732 for speaker:Fidelma Healy Eames

Seanad: Children and Family Relationships Bill 2015: Committee Stage (26 Mar 2015)

Fidelma Healy Eames: I do not think it fair to compare single parents or widowed persons - the Minister referred just to single parents - who have conceived their children naturally. I completely agree that 36% of our children are now born to single parents and that it is a social reality. I really do not know how they do it. I take my hat off to them, because it is so difficult sometimes to rear a child with...

Seanad: Children and Family Relationships Bill 2015: Committee Stage (26 Mar 2015)

Fidelma Healy Eames: This is about Ireland now.

Seanad: Children and Family Relationships Bill 2015: Committee Stage (26 Mar 2015)

Fidelma Healy Eames: We are talking about the future.

Seanad: Children and Family Relationships Bill 2015: Committee Stage (26 Mar 2015)

Fidelma Healy Eames: At the moment.

Seanad: Children and Family Relationships Bill 2015: Committee Stage (26 Mar 2015)

Fidelma Healy Eames: I just want to make an input.

Seanad: Children and Family Relationships Bill 2015: Committee Stage (26 Mar 2015)

Fidelma Healy Eames: Okay.

Seanad: Children and Family Relationships Bill 2015: Committee Stage (26 Mar 2015)

Fidelma Healy Eames: This amendment, which has been tabled by Senators Quinn and Mullen, proposes that we delete "18 years" and substitute "21 years" in section 6(1) of the Bill. Could I clarify at the outset that we are talking about the regulation of the donation of sperm donated in this country, as opposed to sperm donated in Denmark or some other country?

Seanad: Children and Family Relationships Bill 2015: Committee Stage (26 Mar 2015)

Fidelma Healy Eames: Exactly. That is what I thought. I am talking about donations made here. I do not know if there are other people in this House who have sons aged 18 or 19. I certainly think it would be very wise to let them be as old as possible before they make such a far-reaching decision. It is very little to ask that the age limit be extended from 18 to 21. I will set out what I have learned about...

Seanad: Children and Family Relationships Bill 2015: Committee Stage (26 Mar 2015)

Fidelma Healy Eames: I note the Minister's acceptance that my point about the need for independent counselling rather than something which comes from the donor facility is relevant. We should not put something into law that is not good practice. She says the Minister for Health, Deputy Varadkar, will bring a provision forward in the future, but let us do it now. The Minister has time before Report Stage to...

Seanad: Children and Family Relationships Bill 2015: Committee Stage (26 Mar 2015)

Fidelma Healy Eames: I agree with Senator Power that we must think of the child and his or her identity because knowledge of one's identity is vital to one's personality. Why would we do anything that conflicts with this view, which is supported by the recent legislation introduced by the Oireachtas? It is very important that people have certainty that they will be able to trace their genealogy. That the...

Seanad: Children and Family Relationships Bill 2015: Committee Stage (26 Mar 2015)

Fidelma Healy Eames: That is the same as the adoption argument.

Seanad: Children and Family Relationships Bill 2015: Committee Stage (26 Mar 2015)

Fidelma Healy Eames: It is like saying that adoptive families do not want to know about the child's birth parents.

Seanad: Children and Family Relationships Bill 2015: Committee Stage (26 Mar 2015)

Fidelma Healy Eames: The way the provision is written is pie in the sky. While it is desirable to update the information, once the donor makes the donation and hands over the original information, what is the chance he or she will stay in contact with the registry and keep updating it?I would imagine they are very slim. What type of information does the Minister want the donor to add to the register as time...

Seanad: Children and Family Relationships Bill 2015: Committee Stage (26 Mar 2015)

Fidelma Healy Eames: The Senator has made his point very well and it is well worth considering. One cannot always plan for the future and circumstances change.

Seanad: Children and Family Relationships Bill 2015: Committee Stage (26 Mar 2015)

Fidelma Healy Eames: I have some sympathy for this amendment. I also see the Minister’s point because this is about an embryo which is created by two people, not a gamete by one or another. Is it possible that a measure would be included in the original consent that would address the issue of one person dying or a separation? This would ensure there is a clear roadmap because we do not need court cases...

Seanad: Children and Family Relationships Bill 2015: Committee Stage (26 Mar 2015)

Fidelma Healy Eames: Can we fix it so that when the consent is given initially, all those eventualities will be looked at? Life is not perfect.

Seanad: Children and Family Relationships Bill 2015: Committee Stage (26 Mar 2015)

Fidelma Healy Eames: I have a lot of sympathy with this amendment because I know how important it is in the area of adoption, for example. When birth parents have met adoptive parents before the placement, one of the conversations to occur has been on what are a person's interests or on the type of interests in which the family is engaged. For example, it could be as basic as whether the birth parents had...

Seanad: Children and Family Relationships Bill 2015: Committee Stage (26 Mar 2015)

Fidelma Healy Eames: ----- I can stand over the point that it is a strong indicator that the child is likely to have the very same gifts.

Seanad: Children and Family Relationships Bill 2015: Committee Stage (26 Mar 2015)

Fidelma Healy Eames: From that perspective and to be fair to Senator Power, in this amendment she states this was a donation that created a child and asks whether it would not be nice to have the fullest possible picture for that little child as he or she grows up. I do not suggest this is a life-or-death issue, as are other parts of this Bill, but I have a lot of sympathy with the amendment. In my own case,...

Seanad: Children and Family Relationships Bill 2015: Committee Stage (26 Mar 2015)

Fidelma Healy Eames: The debate is going downhill fast now that pejorative language has entered it. I am not happy with prejudice rather than child welfare.