The debate over the regulation of fertility treatment and surrogacy in the Seanad sparked a fiery discourse between Health Minister Stephen Donnelly and Independent Senator Rónán Mullen. Mr Donnelly rebuked Mr Mullen, accusing him of patronising female liberties whilst allegedly controlling women’s reproductive health and sexuality for years.
Mr Mullen retorted by labelling Mr Donnelly as arguably the worst minister, neglecting children with scoliosis while excelling in virtue-signalling politics. The Senator further criticised the Minister’s commendation from certain sections of society.
Earlier in the session, there were heated discussions between Senator Mullen and Fine Gael Senator Mary Seery Kearney regarding international surrogacy and amendments to the legislation.
The Health (Assisted Human Reproduction) Bill, which is in the final stages in the Seanad and has been in the works for over two decades, will soon become law.
One of the major components of the bill is to establish the Assisted Human Reproduction Regulatory Authority (AHRRA). This institution will be responsible for overseeing fertility technological progression and issuing licenses to fertility centres.
The legislations also incorporate surrogacy, pre-implantation genetic diagnosis, and embryo-screening techniques.
Following Mr Mullen’s criticism of the public gallery reaction to his surrogacy comments, the dispute escalated. Nonetheless, Mr Mullen denied Mr Donnelly’s allegations that he had “made fun of them”.
In his argument against surrogacy, particularly international surrogacy, Mullen referred to it as a violation of human rights, and insisted on his freedom to express his discontent about the public’s responses to his standpoints.
The Minister reiterated his censure of Mr Mullen calling him a “complete embarrassment,” and mockingly praised him as a purported defender of women’s rights. He added further that Mr Mullen is no advocate for women’s rights but rather an individual with an obsession to control women’s reproductive health and sexuality.
Mr Mullen criticised Mr Donnelly heavily, characterising him as a feeble and verbally deficient minister with no guiding ethical standards, his sole purpose being to pander to the loudest and most influential voices in lobbying. He had previously conveyed his belief that international surrogacy should be restricted at least within the EU, as monitoring its practices from a distance such as in Ireland is impractical.
However, Mr Donnelly countered such claims, stating the issue will not be handled based on arbitrary geopolitical boundaries. Instead, the approach will be carefully considered, operating on a legally fortified, jurisdiction-by-jurisdiction and case-by-case basis.
Legislation, which will establish an authority to manage fertility treatments and surrogacy, is set to become law today.
Labour Senator Marie Sherlock previously commented on the uncertainty that clinicians and patients have grappled with over the years. She depicted a picture of some fertility clinics acting within a profit-driven industry amidst the prevailing “Wild West” scenario. But she viewed positively the clause that will safeguard the reproductive tissue of children under 18 facing treatments that could significantly or permanently affect their fertility.
However, she questioned Mr Donnelly’s decision to exclude an amendment that would assist children suffering from progressive conditions which could also lead to infertility — a provision that had been inclusive in the Bill’s original draft.
Mr Donnelly responded by promising to introduce amendments to the legislation in September. His reasoning being the potential threat that the entire Bill might not pass through all stages of the Oireachtas within the next three weeks — a risk he stated he is not ready to entertain.