Social Democrats TD Pádraig Rice has welcomed the Minister for Health’s confirmation that she will commence Section 232 of the Assisted Human Reproduction (AHR) Act on April 20.
Deputy Rice, who is the party’s health spokesperson, said:
“In response to my parliamentary question, the Minister for Health has confirmed that she will commence Section 232 of the Act on April 20. This is a long-overdue move, given that the Act was signed into law in July 2024. Section 232 is a key provision of the 2024 Act, which provides a pathway for more donor conceived families to obtain legal recognition of their family unit.
“Specifically, commencing this section of the Act will allow families who conceived a child through non-clinical conception with a known donor prior to May 4, 2020, to go to the courts to obtain a declaration of parentage.
“While this is a very important step forward for LGBTQIA+ equality, there is so much more to be done. We are still waiting for a supplementary AHR Bill to close several gaps in the 2024 Act, which left too many families behind.
“When the 2024 Act finished its passage through the Dáil in May 2024, the previous Minister for Health said that a small number of further amendments were required, and that he would bring forward supplementary legislation that autumn. Two years later, and we are still waiting for that supplementary legislation.
“Last October, as chair of the Oireachtas Health Committee, I launched the committee’s pre-legislative scrutiny report on the supplementary legislation. This report contained 18 recommendations, which I am calling on the Minister for Health to accept and implement.
“The supplementary legislation cannot be delayed any longer. The minister must finally progress this Bill and ensure that it is as inclusive as possible, with a central focus on the rights of the child in line with the Health Committee’s recommendations.
“LGBTQIA+ families have been waiting long enough. Almost 11 years on from marriage equality, they shouldn’t still be fighting for true equality.
“Commencing the current Act in full and progressing an inclusive supplementary Bill would help make marriage equality a reality in the truest sense.”
March 25, 2026