Josepha Madigan (Dublin Rathdown, Fine Gael)
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992. To ask the Minister for Health when the provisions of the Children and Family Relationships Act 2015 dealing with donor assisted human reproduction will commence; the timeframe he envisages until these provisions are operational; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25433/16]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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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 is intended to 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 is also to allow time for officials in my Department 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.