Seanad debates

Monday, 30 March 2015

Children and Family Relationships Bill 2015: Report and Final Stages

 

2:30 pm

Photo of Caít KeaneCaít Keane (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister, Deputy Fitzgerald, for being proactive on this issue and compliment her on the stand she has taken. Senator Ó Clochartaigh has outlined the amendment's three provisions and has made valid points regarding the commencement and how this might be handled. I acknowledge the Minister has met the various clinics that are worried about this situation, particularly for those who are in transition and who already have selected anonymous eggs that are in storage in the clinics or those who perhaps have initiated the process but where it has not been completed. In addition, in respect of a sibling child, three years is a shorter period and at a minimum, one additional year could be added in this regard as well. The Minister, in consultation with the clinics, had mentioned doing something about delaying the commencement of this section to allow such a period of grace or transition to be afforded to those people in such a situation. The Minister might make a statement on the record to display her intentions on how this transition period could be effected to ensure that people who already had selected or paid for anonymous sperm donations or for whom the procedure already was initiated would be given that additional 12 months. In the case of a sibling and the three-year rule, after a child is born, the first and second of the next sperm donations may or may not be successful. If they are not, it could lead to being outside the three years afforded and delaying this section would facilitate a four-year period. The Minister might put on the record how she intends to deal with that because amendment No. 42 is relevant to those concerns, to which the Minister has listened.

I compliment the Minister on the steps she has taken. She should be given a chance, because she has only been in this position for a short time especially if one considers the steps she has taken since coming into office. Last week I looked it up and the first in vitro fertilisation, IVF, took place in 1978 and assisted human reproduction and donor-assisted human reproduction are from 1985. Moreover, as the first guidelines were published by The Institute of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists 30 years ago, Members have been waiting for this for a long time. It was only when the present Minister came to office that the child-centred approach took place. As for anyone to state this Minister does not care, since coming to office she has displayed a huge a amount of care in this area. Moreover, rather than burying Members' heads in the sand, she has been proactive and has acknowledged all the case law in Europe. The Minister has outlined - I have listened to it many times as well as online - what she must do regarding case law. Therefore, I ask the Minister to put on record the proposals regarding a grace period or transition period for the three elements concerned.

Comments

No comments

Log in or join to post a public comment.