Sir, - Prof Martin Clynes (April 8th) asks if the present Government has the vision and courage to do anything about legislation concerning assisted human reproduction. In February, I published a Private Member's Bill entitled Regulation of Assisted Human Reproduction Bill, 1999. The Minister for Health and Children and the Leader of the Seanad have agreed that the Bill shall be debated shortly after the recess in Seanad Eireann, so the Government cannot be said to be avoiding the issue totally.
Legislation is needed urgently in this area. Ethical, medical and financial factors must be taken into account. My Bill avoids describing the technology because this is changing so rapidly. Instead, it suggests the setting up of an advisory committee to deal with the topic.
However, I do suggest that surrogate contracts should be null and void and that the donors of spermatozoa and ova should not have the rights and responsibilities of parents to resulting children. It is essential that emotional court cases, as have happened in other jurisdictions, are avoided and children protected from battles between adults. - Yours, etc., Senator Mary Henry, MD,
Seanad Eireann, Baile Atha Cliath 2.