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MORE THAN ONE thousand patients undergoing IVF treatment have had their treatment suspended amid fears over new legislation on egg and sperm donations.
The Child and Family Relationship Bill will criminalise the use of anonymous donations, meaning that all egg and sperm donors must be identifiable.
However, one Irish clinic has suspended therapy for more than one thousand patients as they have already started IVF treatment using anonymous eggs or sperm.
The legislation provides some leeway in cases where an embryo has formed, but not for those who have not yet reached this stage. The Department said there is no legal requirement to suspend treatment for other stages.
Dr David Walsh, a medical director at Sims clinics in Dublin, told TheJournal.ie that it can take up to six months for an embryo to be formed, and not every course of IVF is successful.
Rush
“All that needs to be introduced is an extra transitional arrangement for couples in this situation,” he said, adding that he was concerned there was a rush to get the legislation passed before the same-sex marriage referendum in May.
The legislation is due to come into effect on March 24, if it successfully passes through the Oireachtas.
“We don’t think it’s fair to be recruiting patients for a procedure that’s going to be illegal after 24 March,” Walsh said, explaining the reason for suspension of the treatment.
He added that it could be difficult in future to source named donors of sperm and eggs.
I’m not saying it’s impossible, but there’s a lot of stipulations. It’s going to be a lot of work.
Walsh said that the Government should now take positive steps to educate the public on sperm and egg donations.
“There are no sperm or egg banks in Ireland. They don’t exist, there are none.”
A further education campaign on the process will be needed, or it will risk sending more patients abroad for treatment, or even “importing sperm into their own homes for insemination”, Walsh said.
It could become similar to Ireland’s abortion laws, he said, as doctors could be unable to consult with patients who wish to travel abroad to use anonymous donors.
Responding to the suspension of IVF, a spokesperson for the Department of Justice said:
Since the Bill has not been passed and will not come into effect for some time, there is certainly no legal requirement that clinics suspend treatment. Neither the Minister nor the Department have suggested that they should, and we would have no legal authority to do so.
The spokesperson added that “the Bill contains some specific transitional measures for couples who may already be undergoing IVF and for whom embryos have already been formed”. The legislation doesn’t refer to patients who have not yet reached this stage.
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Can’t stand the tagline ‘don’t cook, just eat’. Cooking is being looked down upon when it’s much cheaper, tastier and better for you. People need to be educated about cooking from a young age.
You work hard, you play hard…sometimes you wanna just eat! No guilt necessary!
I love cooking, but I also love justeat.
I really don’t think a website service or a tagline is going to make much difference to lazy unmotivated fatties who can’t be bothered cooking.
Isn’t technology fantastic,if you touch your phone in the right place a pizza will arrive at your front door.
They take 25 percent and dont pay for two months. Takeaway owners are leaving them in large nunbers. This is more rubbish concealed advertising by the journal and a paid poster above.
They take 11%
Just back for mc Sh”t in maynooth. Tried one of those new quarter pounder burgers. Horrific is all I can say. Should have brought it back in,but like most irish people I just said I won’t be coming here again.
Anyone else notice this new thing where eating copious amounts of fast food is seen as “manly” and a thing of respect? It seems to be common in young males, such as college students, etc.
There is nothing manly about eating bacon sandwiches everyday or ordering takeaway food more than once a week. In fact, it’s usually just overweight nerds looking for quick release endorphins.
Not to mention if you indulge in food like this often, you are gluttonous and therefore by default, evil.
Someone get this fella a snickers
Take a bow David – that was a classic
I hate everything and everyone too.
Can I get some green thumbs, please?
Starving
I avoid any place I see their sign tbh
Pig food
You can’t order through here Padraig , you need to download the Just Eat app and search for Pig Food, best of luck .
You’re funny.
Haha paulie well done on that one
As former Just-Eat.ie MD, I am not surprised by these results in Ireland. I left in 2011, but as of May this year I am launching a rival http://www.Marvin.ie which will be fairer to both restaurants and customers. Restaurants will only be charged 7% instead of 12% and consumers can earn FREE meals based on a coffee-shop loyalty reward system. I am here to compete and I would love to show Just-Eat that they are not untouchable.
*Like a coffee shop loyalty reward system
Best of luck!
Any app for this or just a website
Hi ciaran
Welcome to the journal
Cianan?
Thy take 12% and pay every 2weeks stil a lot of cash for small corner shops
Eating shit food is an unfortunate part of Irish culture. Lard-ass mentality.
have your say