Trevor Ó Clochartaigh (Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I move amendment No. 36:

In page 27, lines 25 to 27, to delete all words from and including “(1) A” in line 25 down to and including line 27.

This section would appear to preclude what could be termed the DIY donor-assisted human reproduction practice which currently occurs. The Minister has addressed much of this in her explanations on previous amendments. What provision will be made for these people? It is my understanding that in the first draft of the Children and Family Relationships Bill, all donor-conceived children would automatically have had their intentional parents recognised as their legal parents. In the event of any dispute, there would be an opportunity for this to be reviewed by the court and decided in the child's best interests. This has been substantially altered in Part 2 of the Bill as finally drafted and there is therefore a very unequal treatment of donor-conceived children in the Bill.

On Second Stage, I raised a particular case which has come across my desk with the Minister. The case has probably come across the Minister's desk as well. The case involves a couple where the man discovered he was infertile. They got a donation of sperm from a friend and woman self-inseminated. They have a beautiful child who is now a couple of months old. They are concerned that their case will not be covered by this legislation. It is my understanding from what the Minister said to Senator Power that adoption will be the only route open to them. They had the full consent of the friend. In her speech on Second Stage, the Minister said that a donation from a friend was specifically excluded.Perhaps the Minister might clarify the reason.