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

In the Bill we are regulating and making it clear that, in circumstances of AHR, the child's best interests demand that we move from the current postion which is unregulated and where anonymous and some identifiable donations are being used to one in which that information will have to be available and there will be clear consent. The issue of consent is unregulated and we do not have information on donors. That we are moving away from this position means that it is child centred.

Let us consider the research. While there are different research findings, some of the most comprehensive longitudinal studies, for example, the European study of assisted reproduction families, an in-depth study of children aged six, 12 and 18 years, have found no differences in emotional or behavioural problems between donor-conceived children and those conceived naturally. That is what much of the research shows. A number of Senators stated the key factor was good parenting, not family type. Children do well in married families and with cohabiting couples.