Where is the promised amendment to the Health (Assisted Human Reproduction) Bill? In July of last year, the Dáil passed the first assisted human reproduction Bill, which has still not been commenced. A second Bill, to close the gaps in the law, was promised within weeks, but we still have no sight of it.

Two days before the election, the then Minister for Health, Stephen Donnelly, wrote to campaigners to say that the legislation would be commenced on 1 June. That is two months from today, yet we still do not have a timeline for the Bill. Ten years on from the marriage equality referendum, we should not have the absurd situation for some families where one spouse is a legal parent and the other is a legal stranger. This is utterly unacceptable in a modern, inclusive republic.

When will the second AHR Bill be published? Will the commitment to commence the legislation on 1 June be met? Will the Government re-engage with the affected families and advocates? Will it once and for all provide equality for the children of Ireland?

As the Deputy is aware, there needs to be an amendment to that legislation. There is considerable engagement between the Department of children, the Department of Justice and my Department on it and there has been intensive work. It is on the priority list for the spring legislative programme. I expect that amending legislation to be published in June. My own target is that it will be enacted by December.

There is another option to commence a piece, but it is not the complete legislation and we have to set up the regulatory authority. I am quite happy to speak to the Deputy in detail about the sequence of the two elements together but the amending legislation is crucial and my target is for that to be published in June.