Róisín Shortall (Dublin North West, Social Democrats)
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217. To ask the Minister for Health the action that has been taken on each of the recommendations from the Commission on Assisted Human Reproduction; and his further plans in this regard. [17325/18]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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The report of the Commission on Assisted Human Reproduction provided a range of recommendations in relation to the regulation of AHR. The principles encompassed within the Commission's recommendations were taken into consideration during the development of the General Scheme on AHR and are broadly reflected in the provisions of the General Scheme of the Assisted Human Reproduction Bill 2017.

The General Scheme of the Assisted Human Reproduction Bill 2017 encompasses the regulation of 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 embryo and stem cell research. The General Scheme also provides for the establishment of an independent regulatory authority for AHR.

The introduction of legislation in relation to AHR and associated research is a priority for me and officials in my Department are engaging with the Office of the Attorney General in relation to the process of drafting this Bill. In addition, the Joint Committee on Health is currently conducting a review of the General Scheme of the Assisted Human Reproduction Bill 2017 as part of the pre-legislative scrutiny process, which began in January of this year.