Minister for Health establishes new Assisted Human Reproduction Authority
By Jean Daly
A new regulatory body has been established to govern assisted human reproduction and surrogacy in Ireland.
Minister for Health, Jennifer Carroll MacNeill, has officially established the Assisted Human Reproduction Regulatory Authority (AHRRA) under the Health (Assisted Human Reproduction) Act 2024.
Minister Carroll MacNeill asserts that the AHRRA will ensure ethical standards, patient safety, and the protection of all parties involved, including children, parents, and donors.
She has announced the appointment of Professor Deirdre Madden, from the School of Law at University College Cork, as the first Chairperson of the authority’s Board.
Professor Madden, who has a master’s degree in surrogacy and a PhD in the law relating to assisted human reproduction, stressed the importance of this new development for Irish healthcare.
“Assisted human reproduction (AHR) technologies are a critical component of modern healthcare. The new regulatory structure is crucial to ensuring the health, wellbeing, and legal rights of children born through AHR or surrogacy, intending parents, and donors,” she said.
Speaking at the announcement, Minister Carroll MacNeil expressed confidence in Professor Madden’s ability, saying, “Professor Madden has extensive expertise in healthcare law and ethics, including assisted human reproduction and surrogacy, bioethics, patient safety, and healthcare regulation. I am confident that Professor Madden’s comprehensive experience will ensure that the AHRRA fulfils its statutory mandate.”
The Minister will appoint a further seven people as ordinary members of the Board of the AHRRA for a four-year term, including Ciara Merrigan, Dr. Julie Kenneally, Professor David Crosby and Brian Tobin.
Other members appointed for three-year terms are Roisin Molloy, Dr. Samantha Doyle and Professor Mary Wingfield.
Minister Carroll MacNeill said, “I am grateful to those I am appointing to the Board for taking on this important responsibility in supporting the operations and governance of the authority.”
The establishment of the AHRRA responds to the rising demand for assisted reproduction services in Ireland. Since the introduction of the referral pathway in September 2023, a total of 2,669 couples have been referred for AHR treatment, according to the Health Service Executive (HSE). Further statistics show publicly funded treatments have achieved a clinical pregnancy success rate of 38%.
The AHRRA marks a significant milestone in the rollout of the Health (Assisted Human Reproduction) Act 2024, which introduced clear ethical guidelines and regulation in an area that previously lacked formal structure.
