Seanad debates

Thursday, 26 March 2015

Children and Family Relationships Bill 2015: Committee Stage

 

10:30 am

Photo of Rónán MullenRónán Mullen (Independent) | Oireachtas source

That is what it is. The potential exists for people who are really not at a mature stage of their lives to donate gametes. If they do so, it could come back to haunt them, as they will see it, at a future date. In my view, this is something socially destructive because it contributes to the separation of a child from the love and society of one of his or her natural parents. At the very least, we should require independent counselling and certification. We could certainly insist that we would not tolerate the use of such gametes unless the donor, even if he were a foreigner, could show that he had received independent counselling. I should say, before Senator Norris jumps up and cackles at me, that I do not use the word "foreigner" in any pejorative sense.

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