Assisted human reproduction Bill
Deputy Howlin asked about the delayed assisted human reproduction legislation, citing the still-uncommenced donor-assisted provisions. The Taoiseach said the heads of the Bill were expected before Cabinet that month and promised a written update.
I want to raise with the Taoiseach the issue of the assisted human reproduction Bill. He may have seen the stories of surrogate parents reported in The Irish Times over the weekend. It is a reality of modern Ireland that parents are pursuing this option.
In January of 2016, the Minister, Deputy Fitzgerald, commenced large portions of the Children and Family Relationships Act, which was passed in April 2015. However, Parts 2 and 3 of the Act that deal with donor assisted human reproduction still have not been commenced nearly two years after the Bill was passed by these Houses. Can the Taoiseach advise the House when those sections will be commenced? As he knows, cases have been litigated to the Supreme Court and the Chief Justice said that this was a matter for the Legislature to deal with. We have passed law but it has not been commenced. Can the Taoiseach also indicate when the assisted human reproduction Bill will be published? It has been promised for some considerable time.
