Róisín Shortall (Dublin North West, Social Democrats)
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189. To ask the Minister for Health the status of his planned amendment Bill to the Health (Assisted Human Reproduction) Act 2024 to deal with outstanding matters, as committed to during Report and Final Stages of the 2024 Act; the timeline for publication; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39544/24]

Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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As the Deputy is aware, the Health (Assisted Human Reproduction) Act 2024 was signed into law by the President on July 2^nd 2024, having passed all stages in the Oireachtas.

The issues covered by the legislation have been widely discussed and examined, including during Committee Stage and Report Stage in the Dáil and by the Oireachtas Joint Committee on International Surrogacy. Some of the issues which arose require further consideration and, in this regard, I committed to bringing forward a Supplementary Bill for inclusion in the Dáil’s autumn legislative programme.

Following extensive engagement with the Office of the Attorney General, the Department of Justice, and the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth, I intend to seek Government approval for the drafting of this Supplementary Bill in the coming weeks.

The Deputy will appreciate that, contingent on the Government’s decision, the formal drafting process for the Supplementary Bill will be led by the Office of the Parliamentary Counsel, in conjunction with the three Departments, and subject to further consultation with and legal advice from the Office of the Attorney General. Moreover, the legislation will of course be subject to debate and consideration in both Houses of the Oireachtas, and it is the Oireachtas which will determine the final provisions of the Bill.