Homepage  /  IVF News

Anonymous gamete donation to be banned in Ireland

Grace O'Regan

Progress Educational Trust

16 July 2018

| | | |
[BioNews, London]

The anonymous donation of sperm and eggs for use in assisted reproduction is due to be banned in Ireland by next autumn.

Donors will soon be required to add their personal information to a register, to allow children conceived using donated gametes to access personal family information when they turn 18.

'The technology of assisted human reproduction has created a new reality and Irish law must adapt to reflect these changes,' said Mr Simon Harris, the Irish Minister for Health.

The changes are part of the revised 2015 Children and Family Relationships Act which will come into force in the coming months. Mr Harris said it will provide 'much-needed clarity in this area and seeks to vindicate the rights of the most vulnerable individuals in a donor-assisted human reproduction procedure, the children'.

The Irish Fertility Society, which represents clinics and professionals working in the sector, has opposed the legislation, claiming that it would drive subfertile and infertile couples abroad or into 'private arrangements with men on the internet' as a result. It is also feared by some fertility clinics that the ban will result in a reduction in the number of donors.

Dr John Waterstone, current President of the Irish Fertility Society, commented on the legislation when it was first proposed in 2015, writing in the Irish Times: 'Both donors and recipients should be allowed opt for either anonymous or identifiable donation as they see fit. In short, I am for choice.'

SOURCES & REFERENCES

Anonymous sperm and eggs to be banned by autumn
The Irish Times |  8 July 2018
Sperm donors will not be able to remain anonymous
Irish Independent |  7 July 2018
Why it's wrong to ban anonymity for egg and sperm donors
Irish Times |  5 March 2015



© Copyright Progress Educational Trust

Reproduced with permission from BioNews, an email and online sources of news, information and comment on assisted reproduction and genetics.

Share IVF News on FaceBook   Share IVF News on Twitter

1436


Add to Favorites | Reply to Ad | Tell Your Friends
Date Added: 16 July 2018   Date Updated: 16 July 2018
Customer Reviews (0)
write a review
(No reviews found. You may write the first one!)


Join Our Newsletter - Don't Miss Anything!!!

Stay in touch with the latest news by subscribing to our regular email newsletters