Barry Heneghan (Dublin Bay North, Independent)
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111. To ask the Minister for Health the reason the Health (Assisted Human Reproduction) Act 2024 has not been commenced; the timeline for its expected progress; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [10189/25]

Tom Brabazon (Dublin Bay North, Fianna Fail)
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131. To ask the Minister for Health when the provisions of the Health (Assisted Human Reproduction) Act 2024 will be commenced; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [9878/25]

Jennifer Carroll MacNeill (Dún Laoghaire, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 111 and 131 together.

As the Deputy is aware, the Health (Assisted Human Reproduction) Act 2024 was signed into law by the President on July 2nd 2024, having passed all stages in both Houses of the Oireachtas.

The 2024 Act encompasses the regulation for the first time of a wide range of practices undertaken in Ireland, including: the use and donation of gametes and embryos for AHR and research; pre-implantation genetic testing (PGT) of embryos; posthumous assisted human reproduction; embryo and stem cell research; domestic altruistic surrogacy; and also substantive new provisions in respect of the regulation of future surrogacy arrangements undertaken by Irish residents in other jurisdictions and the recognition of parentage arising from certain past domestic and international surrogacy arrangements.

While the 2024 Act was progressing through the Houses of Oireachtas, issues were identified which required further consideration and consultation with the Office of the Attorney General. Formal drafting of the Health (Assisted Human Reproduction) (Amendment) Bill – which is largely concerned with outstanding issues of parentage and citizenship – is well underway, led by the Office of Parliamentary Counsel, in conjunction with officials in my Department, and those of my colleagues, Minister Jim O'Callaghan and Minister Norma Foley.

The Deputy will appreciate that at this point I cannot give a definitive timeline for commencement of the AHR legislation; however, I can assure him that I wish to progress this much-needed legislation as soon as practicable.