Louise O'Reilly (Dublin Fingal, Sinn Fein)
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875. To ask the Minister for Health the timeline for the passing of the assisted human reproduction Bill. [19379/19]

Catherine Connolly (Galway West, Independent)
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937. To ask the Minister for Health when the assisted human reproduction Bill will be published; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19611/19]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 875 and 937 together.

In October 2017, the Government approved the drafting of a Bill on assisted human reproduction (AHR) and associated areas of research, based on the published General Scheme of the Assisted Human Reproduction Bill. The Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health is currently conducting a review of the General Scheme as part of the pre-legislative scrutiny process, which began in January of last year. The Joint Committee intends to report thereon before the summer recess and the recommendations in its report will be considered during the ongoing process of drafting this Bill in conjunction with the Office of the Attorney General. However, it is not possible at this time to give a definitive timeline for the completion of the draft Bill and its subsequent passage through the Houses of the Oireachtas.

Louise O'Reilly (Dublin Fingal, Sinn Fein)
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876. To ask the Minister for Health if the new assisted human reproduction regulatory authority will have a patient advocate on its board. [19380/19]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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In October 2017, the Government approved the drafting of a Bill on assisted human reproduction (AHR) and associated areas of research, based on the published General Scheme of the Assisted Human Reproduction Bill. The Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health is currently conducting a review of the General Scheme as part of the pre-legislative scrutiny process, which began in January of last year. The Joint Committee intends to report thereon before the summer recess and the recommendations in its report will be considered during the ongoing process of drafting this Bill in conjunction with the Office of the Attorney General.

As the Deputy is aware, the General Scheme provides for the establishment of an independent regulatory authority for AHR and Part 8 in particular provides some detail in respect of aspects of what is titled as the Assisted Human Reproduction Regulatory Authority (AHRRA). Head 76 specifically relates to the membership of the Board of the AHRRA and at 76(2) it is stated that all 11 members “shall be people who have experience or expertise in matters connected with the functions of the AHRRA, or in corporate governance and management generally”. Ultimately, the precise composition of the Board will not be confirmed until I have appointed its members but it is my intention that it would have patient representation.