Senator Catherine Ardagh
As someone who has personally experienced the struggle of infertility, my heart goes out to every couple and person who is facing this challenge. It can consume your every thought, from the moment you wake up to the last thing at night.
That's why this week we have introduced a bill to legislate for a publicly funded IVF system. The Bill is an important step forward in laying the groundwork for reaching a system of publicly funded assisted human reproduction treatment in Ireland.
It's worth noting that Ireland has been one of the only EU countries not to offer state funding for assisted reproduction, despite the World Health Organisation recognising infertility as a medical condition. The scientific data shows that one in six couples struggle with infertility, and in my opinion, this figure may be on the low side due to the stigma and isolation associated with infertility.
Budget 2023 included funding which will provide publicly funded IVF on a phased basis and is due to commence in the fourth quarter of next year. While this is a small step, it is a welcome one in the right direction, and it's important to acknowledge that. The bill we are proposing will set out a system to put in place publicly funded IVF. It’s an attempt from us to move forward more quickly with putting in place a system that allows women, men and couples to access fertility treatment regardless of how much money they have.
Government has committed to building up capacity in the Assisted Human Reproduction sphere. Along with the AHR Bill in the legislative programme, Minister Donnelly has shown a clear commitment to progress in this area over the past number of months.
I shared my own IVF journey because I want to see a fundamental change in how the state treats couples and people who are going through fertility challenges. Secondly, I want to open up a broader discussion around the topic and end the stigma and loneliness associated with it.
I know how hard it can be for those who have experienced these challenges, especially for those who did not have a happy outcome. My heart genuinely goes out to every one of you, and I hope that this bill will advance the work of the Government to implement a publicly funded IVF system
Senator Fiona O’Loughlin
We have both tirelessly campaigned for a properly funded public health IVF scheme and are pleased that Minister for Health Stephen Donnelly confirmed additional funding and support of €10 million in Budget 2023 towards publicly funded IVF treatment.
Our bill in the Seanad, the Health (Assisted Human Reproduction) Bill 2023, is a further building block for the proper provision of fertility treatment in Ireland and seeks to complement the Minister for Health’s Assisted Human Reproduction Bill 2022.
After much research on international best practice, looking to models in the UK, France, Canada, the Netherlands, and Sweden, we are proposing the establishment of a body called the Assisted Human Reproduction Treatment Advisory Committee (Rannóg an Aistriúcháin) that would advise on criteria for eligibility for financial assistance with AHR treatment – the main barrier to thousands of people who face infertility issues. Our bill will change this, ensuring equality of access to AHR treatment for all.
Our bill proposes that the Committee will advise and make recommendations to the Minister for Health on the criteria eligibility for financial assistance with fertility treatment, in addition to the age of persons that can obtain treatment, the welfare of any child that may be born as a result of, such treatment, and any other criteria determined by the Minister.
This places the responsibility of whether there will be public funding in the form of full coverage or partial coverage and what the attached conditions will be, such as medical indication, single-embryo transfer, number of cycles, and up to what age, in the hands of experts in this field.
The World Health Organisation is very clear that infertility is a disease and should be treated as such. We provide excellent services for a host of other diseases in our public health service, fertility should be no different.
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