It has been confirmed that the Assisted Human Reproduction Bill has passed all stages in the Oireachtas.
This Bill is based on legislation for both domestic and international surrogacy, as well as legal framework for couples and single people living in Ireland that are seeking fertility treatment.
These treatments includes gamete and embryo donation for assisted human reproduction (AHR), such as IVF (In vitro fertilisation) or ICSI (Intracytoplasmic sperm injection); domestic altruistic surrogacy, pre-implantation genetic testing of embryos, posthumous assisted human reproduction, and also embryo and stem cell research.
It will also ensure that any clinics providing AHR treatment within the State must hold a licence granted by the Assisted Human Reproduction Regulatory Authority (AHRRA), a new body that will be established by this Act.
Many families gathered outside of Leinster House to celebrate the news of the Bill’s passing.
This complex and far-reaching legislation will for the first time encompass regulation on a wide range of practices.
— Department of Health (@roinnslainte) June 26, 2024
The Bill will now be referred to the President for signature and will be enacted as soon as possible.https://t.co/2sfXyhTVZ6 pic.twitter.com/ANwZqoCy6V
The Minister for Health, Stephen Donnelly, spoke about the passing of the Bill to confirm, “Today is a really important day for hundreds and thousands of children and their families, where children are born through surrogacy, children here in Ireland”.
“One of the things it means is that children born through surrogacy in Ireland, their parents will be able to go to court to get full parental recognition for both parents, something that’s never been possible before”.
“We’re also going to be able to expand things like IVF to Donor Assisted IVF. That will help, for example, same sex female couples”.
Donnelly added, “Ireland will be the first country to have a really important, strong framework in place for intending parents who want to try to have a child through surrogacy, be it domestic surrogacy here in Ireland or international surrogacy”.
The Bill is now being sent to President Michael D Higgins so it can be signed into law.
