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

I move amendment No. 5:



In page 14, line 4, to delete "18 years" and substitute "21 years".
I will be brief because I adverted to this proposal previously. Part of the problem here is that there is a complete mentality of contract around how donor gametes are being viewed in this legislation. We need to consider the ramifications of donating one's gametes without knowing with whose other gametes they will be used to bring a child into being in the future. I think we have got it all wrong here. A socially responsible approach would be to say that when one is bringing a child into the world, one should respect that child's right to be in the company of his or her father and mother. From a public policy point of view, we should be insisting that the donor is an older person and is in a position, or perhaps a better position, to fully engage with the implications of what he is doing.

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