Mattie McGrath (Tipperary, Independent)
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432. To ask the Minister for Health the status of the introduction of legislation dealing with assisted human reproduction; the areas which will be covered under such legislation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41851/17]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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The General Scheme of legislative provisions for assisted human reproduction (AHR) and associated research has been completed. This comprehensive piece of legislation encompasses the regulation a range of practices, 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. The General Scheme also provides for an independent regulatory authority for AHR.

As I consider the AHR legislation to be a priority I submitted a Memorandum to Government seeking approval to draft the Assisted Human Reproduction Bill based on the General Scheme and to submit the Scheme to the Joint Oireachtas Committee for review.