Carol Nolan (Offaly, Independent)
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989. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality to clarify if his department has conveyed any concerns to the Department of Health regarding the Assisted Human Reproduction Bill 2024, which includes provisions to allow domestic and international surrogacy, regarding the potential for human trafficking; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29213/25]

Jim O'Callaghan (Dublin Bay South, Fianna Fail)
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My Department is working closely with the Department of Health (the instructing Department) and the Department of Children, Disability and Equality to ensure that the Health (Assisted Human Reproduction) (Amendment) Bill has sufficient safeguards to protect the rights of surrogate mothers, including from the threat of human trafficking, and safeguards to protect the rights of children, including the right to identity.

The Department similarly engaged on this and other policy issues with both Departments in the drafting of the Health (Assisted Human Reproduction) Act 2024.

As is the case with all new legislation, my Department is consulting with relevant stakeholders during the development of the provisions necessary to fully transpose Directive 2024/1712 amending Directive 2011/36/EU on preventing and combating trafficking in human beings and protecting its victims (the recast Directive on trafficking). This process includes consideration of existing legislation in order to maintain the integrity of the law while ensuring that the Directive will be transposed appropriately in line with EU obligations.