Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 28 April 2026
1275. Deputy Ivana Bacik asked the Minister for Health if she will clarify matters of interpretation regarding the Health (Assisted Human Reproduction) Act 2024 and Children and Family Relationships Act 2015 (details supplied). [30900/26]
View answerI was pleased to commence Sections 232 (b), (c) and (d) of the Health (Assisted Human Reproduction) Act 2024 on 20th April to amend Section 20 of the Children and Family Relationships Act 2015.
This change to the legislation expands the circumstances under which a declaration of parentage can be made where a donor assisted human reproduction procedure took place prior to the commencement of the Act of 2015 i.e. prior to 4th May 2020.
The term ‘child’ as used in Section 20 of the Act of 2015 is used to reflect the parent-child relationship of the applicant and the donor conceived person who is the subject of the application for a declaration of parentage.
There is no age restriction for obtaining a declaration of parentage in such retrospective DAHR cases.
The recent amendment to the legislation means therefore that a declaration of parentage can still be sought from the District Court or the Circuit Court in respect of a person who is under or over the age of 18, but in a wider set of circumstances.
