Seanad debates

Monday, 30 March 2015

Children and Family Relationships Bill 2015: Report and Final Stages

 

2:30 pm

Photo of Fidelma Healy EamesFidelma Healy Eames (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

If this was to be mandatory, we would have to enforce it. Unless it is included in legislation now, it could not be enforced. It will only be enforced where there is a hereditary illness. There is no doubt that this is the least best possible scenario for the child. We spoke about whether the Bill was child-centred or otherwise. Setting up a donor register is child-centred, but is it in the best interests of the child? It is not. Having a mother and a father is in the best interests of the child. Everything is relative. It may be desirable, but we are going on somebody's word. I am an adoptive parent. We met the birth mother in advance of placement. We were asked for certain reports during the lifetime of the child, which we have provided, but it was based on someone's word. It was not based on law and it was not based on something being mandatory. People will differ, but if we were to opt to make it mandatory, we would have to enforce it. If it was not adhered to, what would we do then? However, the hereditary illness aspect is very important. If a donor discovers, after a donation has been made, that there is a hereditary illness in his genetic family that may have been pass on to the child, how will this information be discovered? It could be a matter of life or death.

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