The Commission on Assisted Human Reproduction was set up by the Government in March 2000 to prepare a report on all aspects of this subject. Its chairwoman is Prof Dervilla Donnelly, emeritus professor of organic chemistry in UCD.
Its terms of reference are "to prepare a report on the possible approaches to the regulation of all aspects of assisted human reproduction and the social, ethical and legal factors to be taken into account in determining public policy in this area."
Announcing the commission, the Minister for Health, 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."
He pointed out that while many countries had legislation in this area, there was no such legislation in Ireland. Medical practice was governed by the ethical guidelines of the Medical Council, but these did not extend to any service operated by other people. There was growing public concern that complex and controversial procedures were being practised without any legislative controls.
The establishment of a commission was intended to serve two purposes: to provide the medical, ethical and legal expertise necessary for a detailed examination of the possible approaches; and to prepare a report which would provide the basis for an informed public debate before the finalisation of any proposals.
The members of the commission are, as well as Prof Donnelly: Dr Carol Barry Kinsella, an obstetrician from the Rotunda Hospital; Dr Aonghus Nolan, of the Fertility Unit, University College Hospital, Galway; Prof Andrew Green, geneticist in Our Lady's Hospital, Crumlin, and professor of genetics in UCD;
Dr Marina Lynch, Department of Physiology, TCD; Prof Tom Cotter, Department of Biochemistry, UCC; Dr Deirdre Madden, lecturer in law, UCC; Mr Gerry Whyte, senior lecturer in law, TCD; Ms Mary Cooke from the Attorney General's office; Dr Alpha Connolly from the Department of Foreign Affairs; Dr Paul McCarthy, a child psychiatrist in St James's Hospital; Ms N≤ir∅n Hayes, head of Social Sciences in DIT;
Dr Tony Ryan, a paediatrician in Erinville Hospital, Cork; Ms Caroline Harrison, a counsellor in the human assisted reproduction unit in the Rotunda Hospital; Ms Nora Geary, a midwife in the Erinville Hospital, Cork;
Dr Miriam McCarthy of the Northern Ireland Department of Health and Social Services; Ms Helen Browne of the Information Infertility and Support Group in Cork; Ms Geraldine Luddy, director of the Women's Health Council, and Mr Brian Mullen of the Department of Health and Children.