Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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The HSE and the Royal College of Physicians in Ireland have produced a framework document in relation to the management of extreme pre-term birth. The framework document recommends that the threshold of foetal viability should be reduced from 24+0 weeks gestation to 23+0 weeks gestation. It replaces the previous consensus document from 2006 which stated that the threshold of fetal viability was 24+0 weeks gestation. This framework document has been published at the following link:

www.hse.ie/eng/about/who/cspd/ncps/paediatrics-neonatology/resources.

In light of this change in clinical practice, consideration is being given to potential changes that may need to be made to the definition of stillbirth within the Civil Registration Act 2004. As part of this process, officials from my Department are engaging with other relevant Departments regarding this potential definition change.