Stalled fertility treatment regulation causes dismay

Members of the Joint Committee on Health and Children have said they are disappointed that legislation has not been brought forward to regulate fertility treatment clinics.

They were critical of the Minister for Health and her department for failing to develop legislation to regulate assisted human reproduction following recommendations by the Commission on Assisted Reproduction in May 2005.

Fergal Goodman, principal officer with the Department of Health, made a presentation on progress on the issue to the committee yesterday. He said the issues involved were difficult and emotive and went to the core of concepts of human dignity. "We have been working to scope the full range of issues and to identify all of the inter-relationships between these," he said.

"We will also be examining in detail how other countries have approached the regulation of this complex area."

Progressive Democrats TD Fiona O'Malley said she was thoroughly disappointed and it was obvious the issue was not a priority. "We were given encouragement and led to believe the regulation would be legislated for," she said. "It is clear no progress has been made. I am critical of the Minister."

Deputy Liz McManus, Labour spokeswoman on health, said the Minister had written to her in July 2006 to say she had instructed her officials to prepare legislation, but no progress had been made and it was "very dispiriting".

"Are you satisfied there are nine clinics providing services to thousands of women in an unregulated environment?" she asked.

In response, Colette Bonner, deputy chief medical officer with the department, said clinics, operating since the 1980s, did employ registered practitioners and there had not been any serious cases before the medical council so far.

Ms McManus said the medical council was not sufficient to safeguard the interests of patients.

Senator Mary Henry said it was obvious no legislation would be introduced in her time and the department was "washing its hands" of the issue.