Seanad debates

Monday, 30 March 2015

Children and Family Relationships Bill 2015: Report and Final Stages

 

2:30 pm

Photo of Rónán MullenRónán Mullen (Independent) | Oireachtas source

It is ironic that the Minister should use the word "perverse" in terms of identifying the potential consequences because, of course, what is perverse running all through this is the complete lack of regard for the child's rights in the whole story. Clearly the intent of the Bill is to place the minimum imposition on Lars from Denmark or whoever it is that may provide the donor gamete or, indeed, on the clinics as well. When bad legislation is brought forward one can find oneself in a situation where the best one can do is specify that certain things shall be desirable. This is because one has strayed so far from the child's best interests in what is being provided for that it is not surprising that one is tying oneself into knots. That is exactly what this legislation does, it ties reality into knots and it creates situations where it is nearly impossible to vindicate the best interests of the child. I agree with the Minister that it would be very difficult to police making such information mandatory. I have no doubt the consequences stated by the Minister says would follow but all of that is simply to illustrate how wrong is the approach being adopted in the first place. I remind the Minister that it is within her power to legislate against the possibility of donor assisted human reproduction, precisely because of the incursion into children's rights that it contemplates.

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