The Government has taken the first step towards regulating the controversial area of assisted human reproduction in Ireland. The Minister for Health, Mr Martin, announced last night that the Cabinet has approved the establishment of a commission to make recommendations.
Mr Martin said he is conscious of growing public concern that complex and controversial procedures are being practised in Ireland in the absence of legislative controls.
He said the commission would be required to seek submission from the public and to consult appropriate interests.
Given the difficult nature of the issues to be examined, he said it is not possible to be definite about the length of time it would take the commission to complete its work.
The Minister said he is currently working on the composition of the commission, an "essential first step" before any policy proposals are brought forward.
Mr Martin said major advances have taken place in recent years in the capacity of medical science to intervene in the process of human reproduction. "Techniques such as in-vitro fertilisation, the freezing and storage of sperm and artificial insemination by donor are available in Ireland and have enabled many couples to conceive children despite impaired fertility."
While many countries have legislated in recent years to set down parameters within which such interventions can take place, there is no such legislation in Ireland.
The Medical Council published guidelines in fertility practice at the end of 1998 stating that fertilised eggs must not be deliberately destroyed.
The Council said the guiding principle in the rule was that the destruction of human life was unethical.
The guide states that there is no objection to the preservation of sperm or ova to be used subsequently on behalf of those from they were originally taken.