John Curran (Dublin Mid West, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

1167. To ask the Minister for Health the progress being made to commence parts 2 and 3 of the Children and Family Relationships Act 2015; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38164/17]

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

The Children and Family Relationships Act 2015 was intended to reform and update family law to address the needs of children living in diverse family types. I have responsibility for Parts 2 & 3 of the Act which are concerned with parentage rules for children born through donor assisted reproduction and regulation of donor assisted reproduction in Ireland. These provisions are intended to underpin the rights of the child to information about her or his genetic identity.

The commencement of Parts 2 & 3 of the Children and Family Relationships Act 2015 requires the preparation of complex regulations, to ensure the appropriate consent and counselling requirements of the Act are met, in addition to significant liaison with various departments and other bodies concerned with the provisions of the Act. This work is essential to ensure that the process undertaken by parents and donor conceived children is as clear, straightforward and seamless across all services as is possible.

It is intended that Parts 2 & 3 will be commenced in late 2017. Other provisions of the Act which relate to donor assisted human reproduction and related to Parts 2 and 3 will be co-ordinated with the commencement of those Parts.