Ireland to prepare legislation to regulate assisted human reproduction

Irish authorities said on Wednesday new legislation is being prepared to regulate surrogacy and the broader area of assisted human reproduction (AHR) and associated research.

The cabinet authorized the Department of Health to prepare legislation which will regulate a range of practices for the first time, including surrogacy, embryo donation, the screening of embryos for serious genetic diseases, gamete (sperm or egg) donation, and stem cell research, according to a statement from the Department of Health.

AHR will be available to people irrespective of gender, marital status or sexual orientation under the proposed legislation, the statement said.

Sex selection will be banned, although it may be allowed in the case of a high risk of genetic disease or impairment, subject to strict criteria, it said.

Parents, donors and surrogates will have to give consent before any procedure and attend counselling, it added. Endit