Nicole Ryan (Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I am here to speak of a heartbreaking and unjust case. It is the case of Melanie, a woman whose husband died from cancer. Despite doing everything right, she has been locked out of accessing IVF through the public system.Before her husband, Dylan, died or even began chemotherapy, they froze his samples, following medical advice, to preserve a chance of starting a family. Dylan gave full written consent that Melanie could use those samples in the event of his death. Tragically, Dylan passed away earlier this year and now Melanie, who continues to pay monthly to store the samples, is being told she cannot use them through the public system. There is no protocol, policy or pathway for someone in her position. Melanie has gone through so much, losing her beautiful husband to cancer so young, at just 32 years old, and in the midst of her grief the State has forced her to open herself up to scrutiny and to relive her trauma just to be heard, to fight for a small piece of happiness and to fulfil her husband's dying wish that she might have their child, even if he could not be here to see it. Now she is being told she does not fit the system.

Her story raises a wider issue, which is who gets access to fertility treatment in Ireland and who does not. As someone who is in a relationship, I have access to the public system. It is still not fully or fairly implemented and it is under-resourced and overly restrictive, but the point is that, because my partner is alive, I have access to it. Melanie is not asking for the world; she is asking for one chance, a chance that I and other Members have. The public model is built on an outdated definition of family: a heterosexual couple coming together and living together. If, however, you are single, are in a same-sex relationship or, like Melanie, are a widow who has legally consented to samples, you are locked out. Ten years ago we celebrated the marriage equality referendum result, a proud day that changed so many people's lives, but the reality is you can now marry who you love but our fertility system tells us not to expect to start a family with them. The message is that love is equal but family is not.

What kind of health system denies someone the chance because their partner has died, even where their partner gave clear consent? What does the Minister of State say to Melanie as she witnesses this debate, as she listens not just as a grieving wife but as someone who is holding on to a last piece of the future she planned with the man she loved? This is not just about one woman; it is about whether our healthcare system reflects the real Ireland we live in today and the families we actually have, not just the ones the system has decided to serve. We need clear, compassionate protocols for reproduction, we need fertility policies that include all families and we need to stop forcing people in pain to navigate policy gaps and silence when what they really need is support. No one should have to go through what Melanie is going through, and certainly not alone.

I look forward to the Minister of State's reply and to hearing what she has to say about this.