Louise O'Reilly (Dublin Fingal, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

400. To ask the Minister for Health the status of the review of international public funding models for fertility treatment; when the general scheme of legislative provisions dealing with assisted human reproduction, AHR, will be published; the timeframe for the legislation dealing with AHR; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2585/17]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

As the Deputy will be aware, in February 2016, the Health Research Board (HRB) was engaged to conduct a comprehensive review of international public funding models. This HRB evidence review is due to be finalised in the coming months. The HRB evidence review will then be analysed by officials in my Department in the context of considering policy options for a potential public funding model for assisted human reproduction (AHR) treatment. It is envisaged that the final evidence review will be published both on my Department’s website and on the HRB’s own website at the earliest opportunity.

Officials in my Department are currently drafting the General Scheme of legislative provisions on AHR and associated research, and it is envisaged that the General Scheme will be completed in the first half of 2017. This comprehensive piece of legislation will regulate a range of practices for the first time, including: gamete (sperm or egg) and embryo donation for AHR and research; surrogacy; pre-implantation genetic diagnosis (PGD) of embryos; posthumous assisted reproduction; and stem cell research. Once the General Scheme has been completed, and has been approved by Government for publication it will be uploaded on the Department’s website and be submitted to the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health and Children for pre-legislative scrutiny.