Jim Walsh (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister for her comments and I will return to what she said shortly.

I take on board what Senator Crown said and I know women who have had the experience to which he referred. I also know couples who have had IVF and whose lives have been enhanced so dramatically by the successful birth of their children. Therefore, I understand the situation. My only point is that there are many ethical and other issues surrounding all of this with regard to the child and those issues have not been flushed out. All we are doing is skimming over the surface of it which is not good enough, in my opinion. That is why I suggested that this provision should be postponed until such time as there has been comprehensive discussion and analysis. That is my only point.

The Minister talked about parentage. Breaking the natural link concerns me. It is one thing for fate to deprive a child of a parent or two parents. Unfortunately, that does happen but it is nature. It is quite another thing for the State to intentionally foist a child into single parenthood or another situation which is not in the best interests of the child. We need to look at this particular scenario. This is unusual because science has probably outstripped or outpaced where we are socially and certainly where we are legislatively. Therefore, we should move with caution. I have listed all of the other countries that have taken a more cautious approach to this matter. We seem to have adopted a stance of whatever it goes, we will cover legislatively and, personally, I do not think that is right.