Seán Haughey (Dublin Bay North, Fianna Fail)
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154. To ask the Minister for Health when Parts 2 and 3 of the Children and Family Relationship Act 2015 will be commenced; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21729/16]

Darragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal, Fianna Fail)
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186. To ask the Minister for Health when he will activate Parts 2 and 3 of the Children and Family Relationship Act 2015 to allow same-sex partners to be legally recognised as parents on a child's birth certificate; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21796/16]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 154 and 186 together.

When the Children and Family Relationships Act 2015 was enacted in April last year, it was indicated that Parts 2 and 3 of the Act, which deal with donor-assisted human reproduction, would not be commenced for at least a year following enactment. This period of time will provide an appropriate transition period and ensure that people currently undergoing donor-assisted human reproduction treatment could continue that treatment and to give fertility clinics time to prepare for the new regulatory framework.

This transition period is a practical and pragmatic administrative solution to facilitate the seamless transition to a new regulatory framework. This transition period will also allow time for officials to conduct the significant amount of preparatory work required to enable these provisions (including provisions relating to the National Donor-Conceived Person Register) to enter into force.