Seanad debates

Thursday, 26 March 2015

Children and Family Relationships Bill 2015: Committee Stage

 

10:30 am

Photo of David NorrisDavid Norris (Independent) | Oireachtas source

I support Senator Crown in this and I believe there is case law to back him up. I recall two cases, in one of which the father was alive but the couple had separated and the mother was very anxious to have a child. It may have been because of medical complications but in any case the father denied it. The other case was even worse. It involved a woman whose husband had made the donation but then died. She sought permission to use the material but she was denied it because of the absence of consent.

These are very real issues and I commend Senator Crown on raising them. It would be tragic to have a situation where a married couple make donations but the father dies and, in the absence of written consent, the wife is denied the opportunity of having a child. The authorities do not even know the wishes of the father. It is something this House should address.

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