What the Government has described as a “complex and far-reaching” bill on surrogacy and assisted human reproduction (AHR) has completed its passage through both Houses of the Oireachtas.

The Health (Assisted Human Reproduction) Bill 2022 will now be sent to President Higgins after completing all stages in the Seanad.

The bill was the subject of intense debate during its passage through the Seanad, in particular the provisions linked to surrogacy.

Genetic testing

The legislation will, for the first time, regulate a wide range of practices:

• Gamete and embryo donation for assisted human reproduction (AHR) and research,
• Domestic altruistic surrogacy,
• Pre-implantation genetic testing of embryos,
• Posthumous assisted human reproduction, and
• Embryo and stem-cell research.

It will also provide that any person providing AHR treatment within the State must hold a licence granted by the Assisted Human Reproduction Regulatory Authority (AHRRA), a body to be established by the act.

Minister for Health Stephen Donnelly stated that the legislation is “critical, historic, and ground-breaking”, adding that AHR was a complex, innovative, and fast-moving area of medicine.

The bill has been subject to intense discussion and examination during its passage through the Oireachtas.