Rónán Mullen (Independent) | Oireachtas source

One hears the same kind of argument in respect of the issue to which I refer, namely, that if we regulate the position, make everything legal and create an industry, this will somehow make it woman centred. We are starting to win the argument to the effect that it is not woman centred. When one regulates something, very often what one is doing is endorsing it and creating a demand in respect of it. That is why it does not matter how often the Minister refers to the hundreds of thousands of children living in non-traditional family situations. The legislation before the House is not about them except in the context of the aspects which relate to making provision for guardianship, a move which I and, I am sure, all other Members support. The legislation is not about the 90% of assisted human reproduction cases either. Rather, it is about all of the circumstances in which the Minister is contemplating certain children - upfront and in advance - of the right to be brought into the world by their own father and mother or, in any event, to have a father and mother.

It is all very well that the Minister continually states that everything involved is child centred. I am sorry but that is just more of the culture of spin that is bringing politics in general into disrepute. To some extent, it has also brought the Government into disrepute in the context of this issue. If the Minister's approach really were child centred, then it certainly still would have put in place the sections of this Bill which recognise the right of guardianship and other rights which operate to the benefit of children in various situations. However, she would be prohibiting the provision by clinics of donor-assisted human reproduction because this contemplates the deprivation of a child of his or her links with his or her father or mother or both. If one wanted to develop an item of child-centred legislation, one would regulate to support children who are already in the world and provide for their relationships with their parents. However, one would also make this country a cold house for those who would deprive other children of their rights in this regard. That is why I state that the Minister is engaging in spin.

The Minister also engages in spin when she uses language which indicates that she does not want to set up a hierarchy of family types, that she does not wish to re-stigmatise lone parents, etc. By implication, she is stating that this is what the implications under discussion would do.