Averil Power (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister for her response. I appreciate the challenge in recognising services that have been carried out overseas, particularly in such a sensitive area. That is why I did not draft an amendment to recognise services carried out anywhere in the world because that would have been very problematic. Instead, I restricted it to the European Union. I agree that there is a need for a harmonised international response, particularly in the European Union which has done some work in this area. Directive 2004/23/EC sets standards of quality and safety for the donation, procurement, testing, processing, preservation, storage and distribution of human tissues and cells. There is a need, however, for more work to be done at EU level. Ideally, somebody accessing these services in any European state should be guaranteed a certain standard of service. All European citizens should also have the same rights to their identities as we are promoting here, the limited rights which the Minister has included in the Bill and the more extensive ones I would like to see the European Union guarantee some day to all EU citizens born through the use of assisted human reproduction, be it in this or any other member state. This should be a priority at European level to co-ordinate and protect the rights of all EU citizens.

I will not press the amendment. I wanted to raise the issue because it is important. I ask for the Minister’s reassurance that she will take up this issue at EU level with her counterparts and the Minister for Health. From an Irish perspective, he might consider it again in the forthcoming legislation on assisted human reproduction, having conducted more research with his European partners. There is a big gap in the legislation because this is a small country and people will travel to avail of services. It will be unfortunate if they are left in a situation of uncertainty and have only the option of adoption. I would prefer to see this area being properly regulated across Europe in a consistent way to safeguard everybody’s rights.