Pádraig Rice (Cork South-Central, Social Democrats)
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929. To ask the Minister for Health the status of the Health (assisted human reproduction) (amendment) Bill; the timeline she is working towards in publishing this supplementary legislation; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [61012/25]

Pádraig Rice (Cork South-Central, Social Democrats)
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930. To ask the Minister for Health if she has considered the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health's Pre-Legislative Scrutiny Report on the health (assisted human reproduction) (amendment) Bill; if she will accept the committee's recommendations; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [61013/25]

Jennifer Carroll MacNeill (Dún Laoghaire, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 929 and 930 together.

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

While the AHR Act 2024 was progressing through the Houses of Oireachtas, issues were identified which required further consideration and consultation with the Office of the Attorney General (AGO). Formal drafting of the Health (Assisted Human Reproduction) (Amendment) Bill – which is largely concerned with outstanding issues of parentage and citizenship, but also seeks to make other necessary amendments to various sections of the AHR Act 2024 – is at an advanced stage, led by the Office of Parliamentary Counsel, in conjunction with officials from my Department, the Department of Justice, Home Affairs and Migration, and the Department of Children, Disability and Equality.

I welcome the publication on 8 October 2025 of the report of the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health in relation to pre-legislative scrutiny of the AHR Amendment Bill and would like to thank you as Cathaoirleach as well as other Committee members and staff for their positive engagement on this matter. The report is being considered by my Department and also other relevant Departments.

I assure the Deputy that publishing the AHR Amendment Bill is a priority for Government and work is continuing to achieve this as soon as practicable.