Mattie McGrath (Tipperary, Independent)
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848. To ask the Minister for Health the reason the definition of close family member in the proposed legislation regulating assisted human reproduction does not include first cousins or individuals related by marriage; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25383/18]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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As the Deputy will be aware, the Government approved the drafting of a Bill on assisted human reproduction (AHR) and associated areas of research in October last year. Officials in my Department are engaging with the Office of the Attorney General in relation to the process of drafting this Bill.

Head 17(2) of the General Scheme of the Assisted Human Reproduction Bill prohibits the use of gamete donation in an AHR treatment procedure, that would involve an embryo created through the fertilisation of the donor's gametes with gametes from a close family member of that donor. Under this Head "close family member" is defined as a parent, son, daughter, sibling (including half-brother or half-sister), grandparent, grandchild, aunt, uncle, nephew or niece, being such a family member from birth. These provisions reflect the existing legal framework which prevents sex and marriage between close genetic relatives on the basis of consanguinity.