David Cullinane (Waterford, Sinn Fein)
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1831. To ask the Minister for Health the status of the implementation and the progress being made to amend the Children and Family Relationships Act 2015 and the Assisted Human Reproduction Bill as recommended by the Special Rapporteur for Children to ensure that children born through assisted human reproduction have their rights and best interests legally protected in Irish law; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19086/21]

David Cullinane (Waterford, Sinn Fein)
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1835. To ask the Minister for Health his plans to consider a report (details supplied) and amend the Assisted Human Reproduction Bill and the Children and Family Relationships Act 2015 in accordance with the proposed amendments; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19095/21]

Neasa Hourigan (Dublin Central, Green Party)
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1836. To ask the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to a report (details supplied); his plans to implement the recommendations contained in the report; the timeline for same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19096/21]

Thomas Pringle (Donegal, Independent)
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1848. To ask the Minister for Health when he will amend the Children and Family Relationships Act 2015 and redraft the Assisted Human Reproduction Bill as recommended by the Special Rapporteur for Children to ensure that children born through assisted human reproduction have rights such as family life, identity and non-discrimination and best interests legally protected in Irish law; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19125/21]

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin (Dublin Bay North, Labour)
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1924. To ask the Minister for Health if he will re-draft the Assisted Human Reproduction Bill and if his Department will support the amendment of the Children and Family Relationships Act as recommended by the Special Rapporteur for Children (details supplied) in order that children born through AHR have rights and best interests legally protected in Irish law. [19301/21]

Richard O'Donoghue (Limerick County, Independent)
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2016. To ask the Minister for Health his views on the recommendations made by a person (details supplied) to update the Assisted Human Reproduction Bill and amendments to the Children and Family Relationships Act 2015; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19582/21]

Jennifer Whitmore (Wicklow, Social Democrats)
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2112. To ask the Minister for Health when he will amend the Children and Family Relationships Act 2015 and redraft the Assisted Human Reproduction Bill 2017 as recommended by the Special Rapporteur for Children to ensure that children born through assisted human reproduction have their rights, family life, identity and non-discrimination and best interests legally protected in Irish law; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19887/21]

Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 1831, 1835, 1836, 1848, 1924, 2016 and 2112 together.

As the Deputy will be aware, 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, is ongoing by officials in my Department, in conjunction with the Office of the Attorney General. Publication of this legislation is a priority for my Department and the Government, and a commitment to enact this legislation is included in the Programme for Government, “Our Shared Future”.

This comprehensive legislation encompasses the regulation of a wide range of practices, including gamete (sperm or egg) and embryo donation for AHR and research; domestic surrogacy; pre-implantation genetic diagnosis (PGD) of embryos; posthumous assisted reproduction; and embryo and stem cell research. The Bill also provides for the establishment of an independent regulatory authority for AHR.

The recently published report of the Special Rapporteur on Child Protection comprises issues relating to parentage and the right to identity in donor-assisted human reproduction and surrogacy in this jurisdiction and abroad.

The area of AHR, including the use of donor gametes and surrogacy, gives rise to complex legal, ethical and social issues, and concerns many areas of law that intersect across the remits of several Government Departments. The findings and recommendations of the Special Rapporteur’s report are being considered in the ongoing refinement of the AHR legislation, as appropriate. My Department will also continue to liaise with colleagues in other Departments where the issues intersect.

Overall, the provisions outlined within the Bill will ensure that AHR practices and related areas of research are conducted in a more consistent and standardised way and with the necessary oversight. The aim of the AHR legislation is to promote and ensure the health and safety of parents and others involved in the process while, most importantly, consideration of the welfare and best interests of children born as a result of AHR is the key principle underpinning all legislative measures in this area.