Seanad debates

Thursday, 26 March 2015

Children and Family Relationships Bill 2015: Committee Stage

 

10:30 am

Photo of Frances FitzgeraldFrances Fitzgerald (Dublin Mid West, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

We are dealing with aspects of parentage. As I keep saying, we are not dealing with the broader issues. The legislation will dovetail together. There is a transition period as well. The consents and the regulations are appropriately dealt with by the Department of Health and will be dealt with by that Department.

This is the first time any Government has attempted to deal with this issue. It is the first time any Minister for Health has ever brought it to Government. People can talk all they like about how unregulated it is. I accept it is unregulated, but this is a move towards regulation. No other Minister has taken legislation on the broader assisted human reproduction issues to Government in the manner that the Minister, Deputy Varadkar, has done. He has outlined a scheme that is going to be developed. He has been doing a huge amount of policy work, which is being led by the head of the bioethics section in the Department. I have given an indication of the key principles, having worked very closely with him. I am giving as much information to the House as I can in terms of the policy approaches. I have taken the policy approaches that are relevant to the assignment of parentage in terms of critical issues like donation, anonymity and consent.

All I can say is that there are broader issues. I can understand the Senator saying she would like to see legislation in the area of assisted human reproduction. This is the first time anyone has attempted to draw up such legislation. I am not talking about myself. I am talking about the Minister, Deputy Varadkar, who is bringing to the Government a scheme and the policy imperatives that need to underpin it. That is being done and will continue to be done. The heads of the Bill will be published later in the year. There will be a consultation process. It will go to a committee. There will be an opportunity to discuss these issues. I am responding today to anything that is relevant to the parentage element of assisted human reproduction. Quite a few of the broader issues remain to be teased out.

I was asked about my understanding on the limit that will be imposed. Obviously, I am not sort of guaranteeing that this is the limit. The indications are that it will be three.

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