Seanad debates

Thursday, 26 March 2015

Children and Family Relationships Bill 2015: Committee Stage

 

10:30 am

Photo of Fidelma Healy EamesFidelma Healy Eames (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

Intergenerational donation is also a possibility under this Bill. That occurs, for example, where a mother donates an egg for use by her daughter or a daughter donates an egg for her mother. In the former case, we know how they will be related. From the child's perspective, his half sister will be treated by the law as his mother. The people whom the Bill will treat as his maternal uncles and aunts will in fact be his half siblings. Their children, whom the Bill will treat as his first cousins, will in fact be nieces or nephews. How will the child feel about this in the future? One may laugh, but this is how ridiculous it can get unless we regulate for this. I am asking the Minister, between now and Report Stage, to regulate very carefully in the Bill for this situation. It is a very fair request. Does the Minister accept there are issues in respect of donors who are related to the intending parents?

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