There is "no political reluctance" on the part of the Government to deal with the regulation of fertility clinics, the Tánaiste Michael McDowell has said.
Mr McDowell said today that legislation on assisted human reproduction and fertility clinics will be published during the current Dáil session and will be debated early next year.
Speaking in the Dáil, Mr McDowell said Minister for Health Mary Harney has instructed officials in her department to begin work on the legislation.
He said a commission [on assisted human reproduction] and an Oireachtas Committee had already examined the issue and produced a report.
"The legislation will be put in place. It is not a question of political cowardice. This is a delicate issue and one on which there are a variety of interests. It's more than patient safety. It is an ethical issue to do with embryos," Mr McDowell said.
He said the Minister for Health was determined to regulate fertility clinics. "There is no political reluctance to deal with this issue."
Mr McDowell said that the legislation will be published during the current Dáil session and will be debated in early 2007.
"The idea that we should now throw that proposal aside and introduce an emergency bill, I don't think it's a good idea," he said.
Labour's health spokesperson Liz McManus had called for the Cabinet to have the courage to pass legislation on assisted human reproduction.
The debate followed yesterday's High Court ruling in a case in which a woman sought to have three frozen embryos released to her against the wishes of her estranged husband.
The woman argued that the embryos had a right to life under the Constitution, but the court ruled that the protection of the unborn, under the meaning of Article 40.3.3 of the Constitution, did not extend to embryos.
Ms McManus said the High Court decision had opened the door to enable the Government to bring in legislation to regulate assisted human reproduction or in vitro fertilisation.
The Pro Life Campaign urged the Government to take its time and get the law right. Dr Ruth Cullen, education officer with the group, insisted it was wrong to believe the debate on assisted reproduction was over.
"Before rushing into legislation on assisted reproduction the Government needs to take its time and get it right," Dr Cullen said. "The suggestion from some quarters in Government that the debate on assisted reproduction is over and it's time to press ahead with legislation is disingenuous." "Everyone recognises the need for legislation but first all sides in the debate deserve a fair hearing."
Dr Cullen also rejected claims that the Commission on Assisted Human Reproduction (CAHR) had provided a forum for wide-ranging discussion. She said it was farcical to suggest otherwise. "In its report the Commission recommended depriving the human embryo of all protection," she said. "Only one of its 25 members objected.
There was no semblance of balance on this crucially important body. The Government has a responsibility to redress this glaring imbalance and to protect the human embryo."
Additional reporting: PA