Children and Family Relationships Act 2015

Children and Family Relationships Act 2015 Skip to content Disclaimer Feedback Helpdesk Gaeilge Léim go dtí an t-ábhar Séanadh Aiseolas Deasc chabhrach English Gaeilge English Produced by the Office of the Attorney General Táirgthe ag Oifig an Ard-Aighne Home Legislation Acts of the Oireachtas Statutory Instruments Pre-1922 Legislation Constitution External Resources Bills (Houses of the Oireachtas) Iris Oifigiúil / Official Gazette Revised Acts (LRC) Classified List of Legislation (LRC) Translations (acts.ie) Translations (Houses of the Oireachtas) Government Publications for Sale EU Law (EUR-Lex) FAQ Disclaimer Feedback Helpdesk Search Baile Reachtaíocht Achtanna an Oireachtais Ionstraimí Reachtúla Reachtaíocht Réamh-1922 Bunreacht Acmhainní Seachtracha Billí (Tithe an Oireachtais) Iris Oifigiúil Achtanna Athbhreithnithe (CAD) (An Coimisiún um Athchóiriú an Dlí) Liosta Rangaithe Reachtaíochta Aistriúcháin (achtanna.ie) Aistriúcháin (Tithe an Oireachtais) Foilseacháin Rialtais ar Díol Dlí AE (EUR-Lex) CCanna (Ceisteanna Coitianta) Séanadh Aiseolas Deasc chabhrach Cuardach TitleTeideal Year(s) or rangeBliain nó blianta nó raon TypeCineál All Legislation Acts Statutory Instruments Advanced SearchCuardach Casta HomeBaile ActsAchtanna 2015 Children and Family Relationships Act 2015 Children and Family Relationships Act 2015 Permanent Page URL View by SectionAmharc de réir Ailt View Full ActAmharc ar an Acht Iomlán Bill History Stair Bille Commencement, Amendments, SIs made under the Act Tosach Feidhme, Leasuithe, IRí arna ndéanamh faoin Acht Revised Act Acht Athbh… Open PDFOscail PDF Print Full ActPriontáil an tAcht Iomlán Number 9 of 2015 CHILDREN AND FAMILY RELATIONSHIPS ACT 2015 CONTENTS PART 1 Preliminary and General Section 1. Short title, collective citations and commencement 2. Interpretation 3. Expenses PART 2 Parentage in Cases of Donor-Assisted Human Reproduction 4. Interpretation (Parts 2 and 3) 5. Parentage of child born as a result of DAHR procedure 6. Consent to use of gamete in DAHR procedure 7. Information to be provided for purposes of section 6 8. Revocation of consent given under section 6 9. Consent of intending mother 10. Revocation of consent given under section 9 11. Consent of husband, civil partner or cohabitant of intending mother 12. Revocation of consent given under section 11 13. Information to be provided for purposes of sections 9 and 11 14. Consent to use of embryo in DAHR procedure 15. Information to be provided for purposes of section 14 16. Consent to use of embryo in further DAHR procedure 17. Information to be provided for purposes of section 16 18. Revocation of consent given under section 14 or 16 19. Payment of reasonable expenses 20. Child to whom this section applies 21. Declaration by District Court of parentage of child to whom section 20 applies 22. Declaration by Circuit Court of parentage of child to whom section 20 applies 23. Effect of declaration under section 21 or 22 PART 3 Donor-Assisted Human Reproduction 24. Acquisition by operator of DAHR facility of gamete or embryo 25. Performance of DAHR procedure 26. Use of gamete or embryo in DAHR procedure 27. Intending parent to provide information to DAHR facility following DAHR procedure 28. DAHR facility to retain and provide certain information 29. Minister may require information on compliance by DAHR facility with section 28 30. Authorised persons 31. Powers of authorised persons 32. Enforcement of obligations of DAHR facility under section 28 33. National Donor-Conceived Person Register 34. Access to certain information from Register 35. Information in respect of relevant donor to be provided to donor-conceived child 36. Information in respect of donor-conceived child to be provided to relevant donor 37. Information in respect of other persons to be provided to donor-conceived child 38. Additional provision in relation to sections 33 to 37 39. Interaction of Register and register of births 40. Jurisdiction (Parts 2 and 3) 41. Regulations (Parts 2 and 3) 42. Service of documents (Parts 2 and 3) PART 4 Amendments to Guardianship of Infants Act 1964 43. Amendment of section 2 of Act of 1964 44. References in enactments to guardians appointed under section 6C or 6E 45. Best interests of child to be paramount 46. Amendment of section 5(2) of Act of 1964 47. Amendment of section 6 of Act of 1964 48. Amendment of section 6A of Act of 1964 49. Insertion in Act of 1964 of sections 6B to 6E 50. Power of parents to appoint testamentary guardians 51. Amendment of section 8 of Act of 1964 52. Insertion of section 8A in Act of 1964 53. Amendment of section 11 of Act of 1964 54. Amendment of section 11A of Act of 1964 55. Amendment of section 11B of Act of 1964 56. Amendment of section 11D of Act of 1964 57. Relatives and certain persons may apply for custody of child 58. Additional powers of court in relation to applications under this Act 59. Amendment of section 18(2) of Act of 1964 60. Insertion in Act of 1964 of sections 18A to 18D 61. Amendment of section 23 of Act of 1964 62. Amendment of section 27 of Act of 1964 63. Insertion of Part V in Act of 1964 PART 5 Amendments to Succession Act 1965 64. Amendment of section 3 of Act of 1965 65. Amendment of section 4A of Act of 1965 66. Amendment of section 27A of Act of 1965 67. Amendment of section 67A of Act of 1965 68. Amendment of section 72A of Act of 1965 69. Amendment of section 117 of Act of 1965 70. Amendment of section 121 of Act of 1965 PART 6 Amendments to Family Law (Maintenance of Spouses and Children) Act 1976 71. Amendment of section 3 of Act of 1976 72. Amendment of section 5A of Act of 1976 73. Maintenance by cohabitants of certain dependent children 74. Amendment of section 6 of Act of 1976 75. Amendment of section 8A of Act of 1976 76. Amendment of section 10 of Act of 1976 77. Amendment of section 21A of Act of 1976 78. Amendment of section 23 of Act of 1976 PART 7 Amendments to Status of Children Act 1987 79. Amendment of section 33 of Act of 1987 80. Amendment of section 35 of Act of 1987 81. Amendment of section 37 of Act of 1987 82. Amendment of section 38 of Act of 1987 83. Amendment of section 39 of Act of 1987 84. Amendment of section 40 of Act of 1987 85. Amendment of section 41 of Act of 1987 86. Amendment of section 42 of Act of 1987 87. Amendment of section 43 of Act of 1987 88. Amendment of section 46 of Act of 1987 PART 8 Amendments to Family Law Act 1995 89. Amendment of section 2 of Act of 1995 90. Amendment of section 41 of Act of 1995 91. Amendment of section 42 of Act of 1995 PART 9 Amendments to Civil Registration Act 2004 92. Amendment of section 2 of Act of 2004 93. Special provisions in relation to registration of birth of donor-conceived child 94. Sections 23 and 23A of Act of 2004 not to apply to donor-conceived child 95. Re-registration of birth of donor-conceived child on foot of court order 96. Miscellaneous amendments to Act of 2004 97. Registrar may take and receive statutory declaration under Guardianship of Infants Act 1964 98. Amendment of section 44C(2) of Act of 2004 99. Amendment of First Schedule to Act of 2004 PART 10 Amendment to Passports Act 2008 100. Amendment to Passports Act 2008 PART 11 Amendments to Adoption Act 2010 101. Definition (Part 11) 102. Amendment of section 3 of Principal Act 103. Amendment of section 4 of Principal Act 104. Amendment of section 11 of Principal Act 105. Amendment of section 12 of Principal Act 106. Amendment of section 16 of Principal Act 107. Amendment of section 17 of Principal Act 108. Amendment of section 18 of Principal Act 109. No pre-placement consultation required 110. Amendment of section 20 of Principal Act 111. Amendment of section 21 of Principal Act 112. Amendment of section 30 of Principal Act 113. Amendment of section 32 of Principal Act 114. Amendment of section 33 of Principal Act 115. Amendment of section 34 of Principal Act 116. Amendment of section 37 of Principal Act 117. Amendment of section 38 of Principal Act 118. Amendment of section 40 of Principal Act 119. Amendment of section 41 of Principal Act 120. Amendment of section 43 of Principal Act 121. Amendment of section 58 of Principal Act 122. Amendment of section 59 of Principal Act 123. Amendment of section 60 of Principal Act 124. Amendment of section 61 of Principal Act 125. Amendment of section 62 of Principal Act 126. Amendment of section 68 of Principal Act 127. Amendment of section 69 of Principal Act 128. Amendment of section 78 of Principal Act 129. Amendment of section 79 of Principal Act 130. Amendment of section 97 of Principal Act 131. Amendment of section 125 of Principal Act 132. Amendment of section 144 of Principal Act 133. Amendment of section 145 of Principal Act 134. Amendment of Schedule 3 to Principal Act PART 12 Amendments to Civil Partnership and Certain Rights and Obligations of Cohabitants Act 2010 135. Amendment of section 2 of Act of 2010 136. Amendment of section 29 of Act of 2010 137. Amendment of section 30 of Act of 2010 138. Amendment of section 34 of Act of 2010 139. Amendment of section 43 of Act of 2010 140. Amendment of section 45 of Act of 2010 141. Amendment of section 46 of Act of 2010 142. Amendment of section 47 of Act of 2010 143. Amendment of section 48 of Act of 2010 144. Amendment of section 51 of Act of 2010 145. Amendment of section 52 of Act of 2010 146. Failure to make payments and certificate of outstanding payments 147. Birth and funeral expenses of dependent child 148. Custody of dependent children of civil partners after decree of nullity 149. Amendment of section 109 of Act of 2010 150. Amendment of section 110 of Act of 2010 151. Amendment of section 113 of Act of 2010 152. Amendment of section 115 of Act of 2010 153. Amendment of section 116 of Act of 2010 154. Amendment of section 117 of Act of 2010 155. Amendment of section 118 of Act of 2010 156. Amendment of section 119 of Act of 2010 157. Amendment of section 120 of Act of 2010 158. Amendment of section 121 of Act of 2010 159. Amendment of section 122 of Act of 2010 160. Amendment of section 123 of Act of 2010 161. Amendment of section 124 of Act of 2010 162. Amendment of section 125 of Act of 2010 163. Amendment of section 129 of Act of 2010 164. Amendment of section 131 of Act of 2010 165. Restriction in relation to orders for benefit of dependent children of civil partners 166. Amendment of section 133 of Act of 2010 167. Amendment of section 137 of Act of 2010 168. Amendment of section 138 of Act of 2010 169. Amendment of section 140 of Act of 2010 170. Custody of dependent children and social reports 171. Amendment of section 142 of Act of 2010 172. Orders under Family Law (Maintenance of Spouses and Children) Act 1976 PART 13 Miscellaneous Consequential Amendments to Other Acts 173. Amendment of section 2 of Redundancy Payments Act 1967 174. Amendment of section 1 of Unfair Dismissals Act 1977 175. Amendment of section 20 of Child Care Act 1991 176. Amendment of Maternity Protection Act 1994 177. Amendment of section 2 of Adoptive Leave Act 1995 178. Amendment of section 6 of Parental Leave Act 1998 179. Amendment of section 3 of Protection of Children (Hague Convention) Act 2000 180. Amendment of section 2 of Student Support Act 2011 Acts Referred to Adoption Act 2010 (No. 21) Adoption Acts 2010 to 2013 Adoptive Leave Act 1995 (No. 2) Child Care Act 1991 (No. 17) Child Care Acts 1991 to 2013 Civil Legal Aid Act 1995 (No. 32) Civil Partnership and Certain Rights and Obligations of Cohabitants Act 2010 (No. 24) Civil Registration Act 2004 (No. 3) Civil Registration Acts 2004 to 2014 Criminal Justice (Forensic Evidence and DNA Database System) Act 2014 (No. 11) Criminal Justice (Mutual Assistance) Act 2008 (No. 7) Enforcement of Court Orders Acts 1926 to 2009 Family Law (Maintenance of Spouses and Children) Act 1976 (No. 11) Family Law Act 1995 (No. 26) Firearms Act 1925 (No. 17) Guardianship of Children Acts 1964 to 1997 Guardianship of Infants Act 1964 (No. 7) International Criminal Court Act 2006 (No. 30) Judicial Separation and Family Law Reform Act 1989 (No. 6) Land and Conveyancing Law Reform Act 2009 (No. 27) Maternity Protection Act 1994 (No. 34) Medical Practitioners Act 2007 (No. 25) Nurses and Midwives Act 2011 (No. 41) Parental Leave (Amendment) Act 2006 (No. 13) Parental Leave Act 1998 (No. 30) Passports Act 2008 (No. 4) Protection of Children (Hague Convention) Act 2000 (No. 37) Protection of Young Persons (Employment) Act 1996 (No. 16) Redundancy Payments Act 1967 (No. 21) Status of Children Act 1987 (No. 26) Statutory Declarations Act 1938 (No. 37) Student Support Act 2011 (No. 4) Succession Act 1965 (No. 27) Unfair Dismissals Act 1977 (No. 10) Number 9 of 2015 CHILDREN AND FAMILY RELATIONSHIPS ACT 2015 An Act to provide for certain matters relating to donor-assisted human reproduction and the parentage of children born as a result of donor-assisted human reproduction procedures; to provide for the establishment and maintenance of a register to be known as the National Donor-Conceived Person Register; to amend and extend the law relating to the guardianship and custody of, and access to, children and for those purposes to amend the Guardianship of Infants Act 1964 ; to extend the category of persons who may be liable for the maintenance of children and for that purpose to amend the Family Law (Maintenance of Spouses and Children) Act 1976, and for that and other purposes to amend the Civil Partnership and Certain Rights and Obligations of Cohabitants Act 2010 ; to provide for the use in certain circumstances of DNA testing to determine parentage and for that and other purposes to amend the Status of Children Act 1987 ; to amend the Family Law Act 1995 ; to amend the category of persons who may adopt children and for that and other purposes to amend the Adoption Act 2010 ; to make consequential amendments to the Succession Act 1965 , the Civil Registration Act 2004 and other enactments; and to provide for related matters. [6 th April, 2015] Be it enacted by the Oireachtas as follows: PART 1 Preliminary and General Short title, collective citations and commencement 1. (1) This Act may be cited as the Children and Family Relationships Act 2015. (2) Part 9 and the Civil Registration Acts 2004 to 2014 may be cited together as the Civil Registration Acts 2004 to 2015. (3) Part 11 and the Adoption Acts 2010 to 2013 may be cited together as the Adoption Acts 2010 to 2015. (4) Section 175 and the Child Care Acts 1991 to 2013 may be cited together as the Child Care Acts 1991 to 2015. (5) This Act, subject to subsections (6) to (9), shall come into operation on the day or days that the Minister may appoint by order or orders either generally or with reference to a particular purpose or provision and different days may be so appointed for different purposes or different provisions. (6) Parts 2 and 3 shall come into operation on the day or days that the Minister for Health may appoint by order or orders either generally or with reference to a particular purpose or provision and different days may be so appointed for different purposes or different provisions. (7) Part 9 shall come into operation on the day or days that the Minister may, after consulting with the Minister for Social Protection, appoint by order or orders either generally or with reference to a particular purpose or provision and different days may be so appointed for different purposes or different provisions. (8) Part 10 shall come into operation on the day or days that the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade may appoint by order or orders either generally or with reference to a particular purpose or provision and different days may be so appointed for different purposes or different provisions. (9) Part 11 shall come into operation on the day or days that the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs may appoint by order or orders either generally or with reference to a particular purpose or provision and different days may be so appointed for different purposes or different provisions. Interpretation 2. In this Act— “Act of 1964” means the Guardianship of Infants Act 1964 ; “Act of 1965” means the Succession Act 1965 ; “Act of 1976” means the Family Law (Maintenance of Spouses and Children) Act 1976 ; “Act of 1987” means the Status of Children Act 1987 ; “Act of 1995” means the Family Law Act 1995 ; “Act of 2004” means the Civil Registration Act 2004 ; “Act of 2010” means the Civil Partnership and Certain Rights and Obligations of Cohabitants Act 2010 ; “Minister”, other than in Parts 2 and 3, means the Minister for Justice and Equality. Expenses 3. The expenses incurred by the Minister or any other Minister of the Government in the administration of this Act shall, to such extent as may be sanctioned by the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform, be paid out of moneys provided by the Oireachtas. PART 2 Parentage in Cases of Donor-Assisted Human Reproduction Interpretation (Parts 2 and 3) 4. In this Part and Part 3 — “birth certificate” means a document issued under section 13(4) of the Act of 2004 in respect of an entry in the register of births; “civil partner” shall be construed in accordance with section 3 of the Act of 2010; “cohabitant” shall be construed in accordance with section 172(1) of the Act of 2010; “DAHR facility” means a place at which a DAHR procedure is performed; “DAHR procedure” means a donor-assisted human reproduction procedure, being any procedure performed in the State with the objective of it resulting in the implantation of an embryo in the womb of the woman on whose request the procedure is performed, where— (a) one of the gametes from which the embryo has been or will be formed has been provided by a donor, (b) each gamete from which the embryo has been or will be formed has been provided by a donor, or (c) the embryo has been provided by a donor; “donation facility” means a place at which a person provides and donates his or her gamete, and includes a DAHR facility; “donor”— (a) in relation to a gamete, means— (i) a person who has consented, under section 6 or in the manner referred to in section 26 (1)(b)(ii), to the use in a DAHR procedure of a gamete provided by him or her, or (ii) the donor of a gamete to which section 26 (6) applies, and includes a donor of a gamete that is used in the formation of an embryo that is used in a further DAHR procedure, and (b) in relation to an embryo, means— (i) a person who has consented under section 14 or 16 or in the manner referred to in section 26 (2)(b)(ii), to the use of the embryo in a DAHR procedure or a further DAHR procedure, or (ii) the donor of an embryo to which section 26 (6) applies; “donor-conceived child” means— (a) a child born in the State, after the commencement of this section, as a result of a DAHR procedure, or (b) other than in sections 33 to 39 , a child in respect of whom a person has been declared under section 21 or 22 to be his or her parent; “embryo” means a human embryo formed by the fertilisation of a human egg by a human sperm; “enactment” means a statute or an instrument made under a power conferred by statute; “further DAHR procedure” has the meaning it has in section 16 ; “gamete” means— (a) a human sperm, which is formed in the body of and provided by a man, or (b) a human egg, which is formed in the body of and provided by a woman; “intending mother” means, in relation to a DAHR procedure, a woman who requests the performance of the procedure for the purpose of her becoming the mother of a child born as a result of the procedure; “intending parent” means, in relation to a DAHR procedure, a person who intends to be the parent, under section 5 , of a child born as a result of the procedure, and includes an intending mother; “Minister” means the Minister for Health; “mother” means, in relation to a child, the woman who gives birth to the child; “operator” means, in relation to a DAHR facility, the person who owns or manages the facility or is otherwise responsible for the running of the facility; “prescribed” means prescribed by regulations under section 41 ; “Register” means the register established under section 33 ; “registered medical practitioner” means a person who is a registered medical practitioner within the meaning of section 2 of the Medical Practitioners Act 2007 ; “registered nurse” means a person whose name is entered for the time being in the nurses division of the register of nurses and midwives established under section 46 of the Nurses and Midwives Act 2011 ; “relevant donor” means, in relation to a donor-conceived child— (a) subject to paragraph (b), the donor of a gamete that was used in the DAHR procedure that resulted in the birth of the donor-conceived child, and (b) in the case of a donor-conceived child who is born as a result of a DAHR procedure or a further DAHR procedure in which a donated embryo was used— (i) a donor of the embryo who provided a gamete that was used in the formation of the embryo, and (ii) where applicable, the donor of a gamete that was used in the formation of the embryo. Parentage of child born as a result of DAHR procedure 5. (1) The parents of a donor-conceived child who is born as a result of a DAHR procedure to which subsection (8) applies are— (a) the mother, and (b) the husband, civil partner or cohabitant, as the case may be, of the mother. (2) Where a donor-conceived child is born as a result of a DAHR procedure, other than a DAHR procedure to which subsection (8) applies, the mother alone shall be the parent of that child. (3) Where a person is, under subsection (1) or (2), the parent of a child, he or she shall have all parental rights and duties in respect of the child. (4) In deducing any relationship for the purposes of any enactment, the relationship between every donor-conceived child and his or her parent or parents shall be determined in accordance with this section and all other relationships shall be determined accordingly. (5) A donor of a gamete that is used in a DAHR procedure— (a) is not the parent of a child born as a result of that procedure, and (b) has no parental rights or duties in respect of the child. (6) A donor of an embryo that is used in a DAHR procedure— (a) is not the parent of a child born as a result of that procedure, and (b) has no parental rights or duties in respect of the child. (7) On and after the coming into operation of this section, a reference in any enactment to— (a) a mother or parent of a child shall be construed as not including a woman who is the donor of a gamete or embryo that was used in a DAHR procedure that resulted in the birth of the child, and (b) a father or parent of a child shall be construed as not including a man who is the donor of a gamete or embryo that was used in a DAHR procedure that resulted in the birth of the child. (8) This subsection applies to a DAHR procedure in relation to which— (a) the intending mother has consented under section 9 to the parentage under subsection (1) of the child born as a result of the procedure, where her declaration under section 9 (1)(c) includes a statement referred to in section 9 (3)(d) in respect of her husband, civil partner or cohabitant, as the case may be, and (b) the husband, civil partner or cohabitant of the intending mother referred to in paragraph (a) has consented under section 11 to the parentage under subsection (1) of the child referred to in that paragraph. Consent to use of gamete in DAHR procedure 6. (1) A person consents under this section to the use in a DAHR procedure of a gamete provided by him or her where he or she— (a) has attained the age of 18 years, (b) has received the information referred to in section 7 , and (c) makes a declaration in accordance with subsections (2) and (3). (2) A declaration under subsection (1)(c) shall be made before the donation is made, and shall be in writing, dated, and signed by the person in the presence of a person authorised in that behalf by the operator of the donation facility where the gamete is provided. (3) A declaration under subsection (1)(c) shall be in such form as may be prescribed and shall include the following statements: (a) that the person has received the information referred to in section 7 ; (b) subject to subsection (4), that the person consents to the use in a DAHR procedure of the gamete provided by him or her; (c) that, in the event that the gamete is used in a procedure referred to in paragraph (b), the person consents to the provision to the Minister of the information referred to in section 28 (3)(a) in respect of him or her; (d) that the person is aware that he or she shall not be the parent of any child born as a result of a procedure referred to in paragraph (b); (e) that, in the event that a child is born as a result of a procedure referred to in paragraph (b), the person— (i) consents to the recording on the Register of the information specified in section 33 (3)(d) in respect of the person, and (ii) understands that the child may, in accordance with section 35 , access the information referred to in sub paragraph (i) and seek to contact him or her. (4) In making a statement referred to in subsection (3)(b), a person may state that his or her consent is restricted to the use of the gamete in a DAHR procedure performed on the request of— (a) the intending mother specified in the statement, where the DAHR procedure concerned is one to which section 25 (3)(b)(i) applies, or (b) the intending parents specified in the statement, where the DAHR procedure concerned is one to which section 25 (3)(b)(ii) applies. (5) A person’s consent under this section to the use of his or her gamete in a DAHR procedure may not be restricted other than as provided for in subsection (4). Information to be provided for purposes of section 6 7. The operator of a donation facility shall, before a person makes a declaration under section 6 (1)(c), inform him or her— (a) that, in the event that he or she consents under section 6 to the use in a DAHR procedure of a gamete provided by him or her— (i) he or she is entitled to seek the information referred to in section 34 (2), and (ii) where such a DAHR procedure is performed, he or she consents to the provision to the Minister of the information referred to in section 28(3)(a) in respect of him or her, (b) that, in the event that a child is born as a result of the procedure referred to in paragraph (a)— (i) he or she shall not be the parent of that child, (ii) the information specified in section 33 (3)(d) in relation to him or her shall be recorded on the Register, (iii) the child may, in accordance with section 35 , access the information referred to in subparagraph (ii) and seek to contact him or her, (iv) the person’s entitlement to obtain information recorded on the Register is subject to section 36 and is otherwise restricted to the information referred to in section 34 (2), and (v) having regard to the child’s right to his or her identity, it is desirable that he or she keep updated, in accordance with section 38 (1), the information in relation to him or her that is recorded on the Register, and (c) of his or her right under section 8 , in the event that he or she consents under section 6 to the use of his or her gamete in a DAHR procedure, to revoke that consent. Revocation of consent given under section 6 8. (1) Subject to this section, a donor of a gamete may, by notice in writing to the operator of the donation facility to which his or her declaration under section 6 (1)(c) was made, revoke his or her consent under that section. (2) A revocation of consent under subsection (1) shall have no effect in respect of a gamete to which the consent relates that has been used at a DAHR facility in the formation of an embryo before the date on which the notice under that subsection is received by the operator of the DAHR facility concerned. Consent of intending mother 9. (1) An intending mother consents under this section to the parentage, under subsection (1) or (2), as the case may be, of section 5 of a child born to her as a result of a DAHR procedure where, before that procedure is performed, she— (a) has attained the age of 21 years, (b) has received the information referred to in section 13 , and (c) makes a declaration in accordance with subsections (2) and (3). (2) A declaration under subsection (1)(c) shall be made before the DAHR procedure is performed and shall be in writing, dated, and signed by the intending mother in the presence of a person authorised in that behalf by the operator of the DAHR facility where the DAHR procedure is to be performed. (3) A declaration under subsection (1)(c) shall be in such form as may be prescribed and shall include the following statements: (a) that the intending mother has received the information referred to in section 13 ; (b) that, in the event that a DAHR procedure is performed, the intending mother— (i) consents to the provision to the Minister of the information referred to in section 28 (3)(b) in respect of her, and (ii) agrees to comply with her obligations under section 27 ; (c) that the intending mother is aware that— (i) the donor of a gamete or embryo used in the DAHR procedure shall not be the parent of any child born as a result of that procedure, and (ii) she shall be the mother of such a child; (d) where applicable, that the intending mother consents to her husband, civil partner or cohabitant, as the case may be, being the parent under section 5 (1)(b) of any child born as a result of the DAHR procedure; (e) that, in the event that a child is born as a result of the DAHR procedure, the intending mother— (i) consents to the recording on the Register of the information specified in section 33 (3)(c) in respect of her, (ii) consents to the recording on the Register of the information specified in paragraphs (a) and (b) of section 33 (3) in respect of the child, and (iii) understands that the child may, in accordance with section 35 , access the information specified in section 33 (3)(d) in respect of a person who is, in relation to the child, a relevant donor and seek to contact him or her. Revocation of consent given under section 9 10. (1) Subject to this section, an intending mother may, by notice in writing to the operator of the DAHR facility to which her declaration under section 9 (1)(c) was made, revoke her consent under that section. (2) A revocation of consent under subsection (1) shall have no effect in respect of a DAHR procedure to which the consent relates that has been performed before the notice under that subsection is received by the operator of the DAHR facility at which the procedure was performed. Consent of husband, civil partner or cohabitant of intending mother 11. (1) A person, being the husband, civil partner or cohabitant of the intending mother concerned, consents under this section to be the parent, under section 5 (1)(b), of a child born as a result of a DAHR procedure where, before that procedure is performed— (a) the person has attained the age of 21 years, (b) the intending mother has consented under section 9 to a DAHR procedure, and her declaration under section 9 (1)(c) includes a statement referred to in section 9 (3)(d) in respect of the person, (c) the person has received the information referred to in section 13 , and (d) the person makes a declaration in accordance with subsections (2) and (3). (2) A declaration under subsection (1)(d) shall be made before the DAHR procedure is performed and shall be in writing, dated, and signed by the person in the presence of a person authorised in that behalf by the operator of the DAHR facility where the DAHR procedure is to be performed. (3) A declaration under subsection (1)(d) shall be in such form as may be prescribed and shall include the following statements: (a) that the person is the husband, civil partner or cohabitant, as the case may be, of the intending mother; (b) that the person has received the information referred to in section 13 ; (c) that, in the event that a DAHR procedure is performed, the person— (i) consents to the provision to the Minister of the information referred to in section 28 (3)(b) in respect of him or her, and (ii) agrees to comply with his or her obligations under section 27 ; (d) that the person is aware that— (i) the donor of a gamete or embryo used in the DAHR procedure shall not be the parent of any child born as a result of that procedure, and (ii) by consenting in accordance with this section, he or she shall, under this Act, together with the mother of the child, be the parent of such a child; (e) that, in the event that a child is born as a result of the DAHR procedure, the person— (i) consents to the recording on the Register of the information specified in section 33 (3)(c) in respect of him or her, (ii) consents to the recording on the Register of the information specified in paragraphs (a) and (b) of section 33 (3) in respect of the child, and (iii) understands that the child may, in accordance with section 35 , access the information specified in section 33 (3)(d) in respect of a person who is, in relation to the child, a relevant donor and seek to contact him or her. Revocation of consent given under section 11 12. (1) Subject to this section, a person may, by notice in writing to the operator of the DAHR facility to which his or her declaration under section 11 (1)(d) was made, revoke his or her consent under that section. (2) A revocation of consent under subsection (1) shall have no effect in respect of a DAHR procedure to which the consent relates that has been performed before the notice under that subsection is received by the operator of the DAHR facility at which the procedure was performed. Information to be provided for purposes of sections 9 and 11 13. The operator of a DAHR facility shall, before a person makes a declaration under section 9 (1)(c) or section 11 (1)(d), inform him or her— (a) that, in the event that a DAHR procedure is performed, the information referred to in section 28 (3)(b) in respect of him or her shall be provided to the Minister, (b) that, in the event that he or she consents in accordance with section 9 or 11 , as the case may be, and a child is born as a result of the DAHR procedure— (i) he or she shall be the parent of the child, (ii) the donor of a gamete or embryo used in the DAHR procedure shall not be the parent of the child, (iii) the information specified in section 33 (3) in respect of the intending parent or parents, the child and a person who is, in relation to the child, a relevant donor, shall be recorded on the Register, (iv) the child may, in accordance with section 35 , access the information specified in section 33 (3)(d) in respect of the donor referred to in subparagraph (iii) and seek to contact him or her, and (v) his or her entitlement to obtain information from the Register shall be restricted to the information referred to in section 34 (1), (c) of his or her obligation under section 27 to provide the information specified in that section to the DAHR facility concerned, and (d) of his or her right under section 10 or 12 , as the case may be, in the event that he or she consents under section 9 or 11 , to revoke that consent. Consent to use of embryo in DAHR procedure 14. (1) Where— (a) an embryo is formed for the purposes of an assisted human reproduction procedure, and (b) the woman and man on whose request the assisted human reproduction procedure is to be performed do not wish for the embryo to be used in such a procedure, the woman and man may consent, under this section, to the use of the embryo in a DAHR procedure. (2) Subject to subsection (3), the woman and man referred to in subsection (1) may consent under this section to the use of the embryo in a DAHR procedure in respect of which neither of them is an intending parent. (3) An embryo referred to in subsection (2) may be used in a DAHR procedure to which that subsection applies only where both the woman and the man concerned have consented under that subsection. (4) A man to whom subsection (1) applies may consent under this section to the use of the embryo in a DAHR procedure in respect of which— (a) the woman to whom subsection (1) applies is the intending mother, and (b) he is not an intending parent. (5) A person consents under this section to the use of an embryo in a DAHR procedure where he or she— (a) receives the information referred to in section 15 , and (b) makes a declaration in accordance with subsections (6) and (7). (6) A declaration under subsection (5)(b) shall be made before the donation is made and shall be in writing, dated, and signed by the person in the presence of a person authorised in that behalf by the operator of a DAHR facility. (7) A declaration under subsection (5)(b) shall include the following statements: (a) that the person has received the information referred to in section 15 ; (b) subject to subsection (8), that the person consents to the use in a DAHR procedure of the embryo; (c) that the person is aware that he or she shall not be the parent of any child born as a result of the DAHR procedure; (d) that, in the event that the embryo is used in a DAHR procedure, the person consents to the provision to the Minister of the information referred to in section 28 (3)(a) in respect of him or her; (e) that, in the event that a child is born as a result of a DAHR procedure, the person— (i) consents to the recording in the Register of the information specified in section 33 (3)(d) in respect of him or her, and (ii) understands that the child may, in accordance with section 35 , access the information referred to in sub paragraph (i), and seek to contact him or her. (8) In making a statement referred to in subsection (7)(b), a person may state that his or her consent is restricted to the use of the embryo in a DAHR procedure performed on the request of— (a) an intending mother specified in the statement, where the DAHR procedure concerned is one to which section 25 (3)(b)(i) applies, or (b) the intending parents specified in the statement, where the DAHR procedure concerned is one to which section 25 (3)(b)(ii) applies. (9) A person’s consent under this section to the use of an embryo in a DAHR procedure may not be restricted other than as provided for in subsection (8). (10) In this section, “assisted human reproduction procedure” means a procedure performed with the objective of it resulting in the implantation of an embryo in the womb of the woman on whose request the procedure is performed, where— (a) the embryo has been or will be formed from a gamete provided by the woman and a gamete provided by a man, and (b) the procedure is performed for the purpose of the woman and the man becoming the parents of a child born as a result of the procedure. Information to be provided for purposes of section 14 15. The operator of a DAHR facility shall, before a person makes a declaration under section 14 (5)(b), inform him or her— (a) that, in the event that he or she consents under section 14 to the use of the embryo in a DAHR procedure— (i) he or she is entitled to seek the information referred to in section 34 (2), and (ii) where such a DAHR procedure is performed, he or she consents to the provision to the Minister of the information referred to in section 28(3)(a) in respect of him or her, (b) that, in the event that a child is born as a result of the DAHR procedure referred to in paragraph (a) — (i) he or she shall not be the parent of that child, (ii) the information specified in section 33 (3)(d) in relation to him or her shall be recorded on the Register, (iii) the child may, in accordance with section 35 , access the information specified in section 33 (3)(d) in respect of him or her and seek to contact him or her, (iv) the person’s entitlement to obtain information recorded on the Register is subject to section 36 and is otherwise restricted to the information referred to in section 34 (2), and (v) having regard to the child’s right to his or her identity, it is desirable that he or she keep updated, in accordance with section 38 (1), the information in relation to him or her that is recorded on the Register, and (c) of his or her right under section 18 , in the event that he or she consents under section 14 to the use of the embryo in a DAHR procedure, to revoke that consent. Consent to use of embryo in further DAHR procedure 16. (1) Where— (a) an embryo is formed for the purposes of a DAHR procedure, and (b) (i) in the case of a DAHR procedure to which section 25 (3)(b)(ii) applies, the intending parents do not wish for the embryo to be used in a DAHR procedure in respect of which they are the intending parents, or (ii) in the case of a DAHR procedure to which section 25 (3)(b)(i) applies, the intending mother does not wish for the embryo to be used in a DAHR procedure in respect of which she is the intending mother, a person referred to in paragraph (b) may consent, under this section, to the use of the embryo in a further DAHR procedure. (2) Subject to subsection (3), each intending parent referred to in subsection (1)(b)(i) may consent under this section to the use of the embryo in a DAHR procedure in respect of which neither of them is an intending parent. (3) An embryo referred to in subsection (2) may be used in a further DAHR procedure to which that subsection applies only where each intending parent has consented under that subsection. (4) An intending parent to whom subsection (1)(b)(i) applies, who is not the intending mother, may consent under this section to the use of the embryo in a DAHR procedure in respect of which— (a) the intending mother is the intending mother, and (b) he or she is not an intending parent. (5) A person consents under this section to the use of an embryo in a further DAHR procedure where he or she— (a) receives the information referred to in section 17 , and (b) makes a declaration in accordance with subsections (6) and (7). (6) A declaration under subsection (5)(b) shall be made before the donation is made and shall be in writing, dated, and signed by the person in the presence of a person authorised in that behalf by the operator of a DAHR facility. (7) A declaration under subsection (5)(b) shall include the following statements: (a) that the person has received the information referred to in section 17 ; (b) subject to subsection (8), that the person consents to the use in a further DAHR procedure of the embryo; (c) that the person is aware that he or she shall not be the parent of any child born as a result of a further DAHR procedure; (d) where the embryo was formed from a gamete provided by the person— (i) that, in the event that the embryo is used in a further DAHR procedure, the person consents to the provision to the Minister of the information referred to in section 28(3)(a) in respect of him or her, and (ii) that, in the event that a child is born as a result of a further DAHR procedure, the person— (I) consents to the recording in the Register of the information specified in section 33 (3)(d) in respect of him or her, and (II) understands that the child may, in accordance with section 35 , access the information referred to in clause (I), and seek to contact him or her. (8) In making a statement referred to in subsection (7)(b), a person may state that his or her consent is restricted to the use of the embryo in a further DAHR procedure performed on the request of— (a) an intending mother specified in the statement, where the further DAHR procedure concerned is one to which section 25 (3)(b)(i) applies, or (b) the intending parents specified in the statement, where the further DAHR procedure concerned is one to which section 25 (3)(b)(ii) applies. (9) A person’s consent under this section to the use of an embryo in a further DAHR procedure may not be restricted other than as provided for in subsection (8). (10) In this section “further DAHR procedure”, means a DAHR procedure to which subsection (2) or (4) applies. Information to be provided for purposes of section 16 17. (1) The operator of a DAHR facility shall, before a person makes a declaration under section 16 (5)(b), inform him or her— (a) that, in the event that he or she consents under section 16 to the use of the embryo in a further DAHR procedure, and a child is born as a result of that procedure, he or she shall not be the parent of the child, (b) of his or her right under section 18 , in the event that he or she consents under section 16 to the use of the embryo in a further DAHR procedure, to revoke that consent, and (c) where subsection (2) applies, of the matters specified in that subsection. (2) Where a person referred to in subsection (1) has provided a gamete that was used in the formation of the embryo concerned, the facility referred to in that subsection shall, in addition, inform the person that— (a) in the event that he or she consents under section 16 to the use of the embryo in a further DAHR procedure— (i) he or she is entitled to seek the information referred to in section 34 (2), and (ii) where such a further DAHR procedure is performed, he or she consents to the provision to the Minister of the information referred to in section 28 (3)(a) in respect of him or her, and (b) in the event that a child is born as a result of the further DAHR procedure— (i) the information specified in section 33 (3)(d) in relation to him or her shall be recorded on the Register, (ii) the child may, in accordance with section 35 , access the information specified in section 33 (3)(d) in respect of him or her and seek to contact him or her, (iii) the person’s entitlement to obtain information recorded on the Register is subject to section 36 and is otherwise restricted to the information referred to in section 34 (2), and (iv) having regard to the child’s right to his or her identity it is desirable that he or she keep updated, in accordance with section 38 (1), the information in relation to him or her that is recorded on the Register. Revocation of consent given under section 14 or 16 18. (1) Subject to subsection (2), a donor under section 14 or 16 of an embryo may, by notice in writing to the operator of the DAHR facility to which his or her declaration under section 14 (5)(b) or section 16 (5)(b), as the case may be, was made, revoke his or her consent under the relevant section. (2) A revocation of consent under subsection (1) shall have no effect in respect of a DAHR procedure or, as the case may be, a further DAHR procedure to which the consent relates that has been performed before the notice under that subsection is received by the operator of the DAHR facility at which the procedure is performed. Payment of reasonable expenses 19. (1) The consent of a donor under section 6 shall not be valid where it is given in exchange for financial compensation in excess of the reasonable expenses associated with the provision of the gamete concerned or the giving of consent under that section. (2) The consent of a donor under section 14 or 16 shall not be valid where it is given in exchange for financial compensation in excess of the reasonable expenses specified in subsection (3)(a) or (c) associated with the giving of consent under that section. (3) In this section, “reasonable expenses” means, in relation to a donor, the donor’s— (a) travel costs, (b) medical expenses, and (c) any legal or counselling costs, incurred by him or her in relation to the provision of the gamete or, as the case may be, the giving of consent under this Part. Child to whom this section applies 20. (1) This section applies to a child where— (a) the child was born in the State, (b) the child was born as a result of a DAHR procedure that was performed before the date on which this section comes into operation that— (i) was performed in the State, or (ii) was performed outside the State, where the person who performed the procedure was authorised to do so under the law of the place where the procedure was performed, (c) at the time when the DAHR procedure referred to in paragraph (b) was performed, a person was an intending parent of the child and was the only intending parent of the child, (d) at the time referred to in paragraph (c) the person, other than the mother of the child, who provided a gamete that was used in the DAHR procedure— (i) was unknown to the mother of the child and the person referred to in paragraph (c), and (ii) was not an intending parent of the child, (e) at the time of an application under section 21 or 22 , as the case may be, the person referred to in paragraph (d) remains unknown to the mother of the child and the person referred to in paragraph (c), and (f) the mother of the child is recorded as the mother of the child in a register of births and no person, or no person other than the person referred to in paragraph (c), is recorded in that register as the child’s father or parent. (2) In this section and sections 21 to 23 — “DAHR procedure” includes a DAHR procedure that is performed outside the State; “intending parent” means, in relation to a child who is born as a result of a DAHR procedure, a person, other than the intending mother of the child who, at the time the DAHR procedure is performed, was aware of the performance of the procedure and undertook to care for, and exercise responsibilities towards, any child born as a result of the procedure, as if he or she were the parent of the child; “register of births”, means a register of births maintained by An tArd-Chláraitheoir under section 13 (1)(a) of the Civil Registration Act 2004 , as amended, or under the repealed enactments (within the meaning of that Act). Declaration by District Court of parentage of child to whom section 20 applies 21. (1) The persons specified in subsection (2) may jointly apply to the District Court in such manner as may be prescribed by rules of court for a declaration under this section that the person referred to in subsection (2)(b) is the parent of a child to whom section 20 applies. (2) An application for a declaration under this section may be made, in relation to a child to whom section 20 applies, by— (a) the mother of the child, and (b) the person, referred to in section 20 (1)(c), who was an intending parent of the child. (3) The child to whom an application for a declaration under this section relates shall be joined as a party to the proceedings. (4) An application under this section shall be grounded on an affidavit sworn by each applicant, stating that— (a) the child to whom the application relates is a child to whom section 20 applies, (b) the applicant referred to in subsection (2)(b) was, at the time referred to in section 20 (1)(c), the intending parent of the child, and (c) he or she consents to the making of a declaration under this section. (5) On an application under this section the Court may, at any stage of the proceedings, of its own motion or on the application of any party to the proceedings, direct that all necessary papers in the matter be sent to the Attorney General. (6) Where on an application under this section the Attorney General requests to be made a party to the proceedings, the Court shall order that he or she shall be added as a party, and, whether or not he or she so requests, the Attorney General may argue before the Court any question in relation to the application which the Court considers necessary to have fully argued and take such other steps in relation thereto as he or she thinks necessary or expedient. (7) The Court may direct that notice of any application under this section shall be given to such other persons as the Court thinks fit and where notice is so given to any person the Court may, either of its own motion or on the application of that person or any party to the proceedings, order that that person shall be added as a party to those proceedings. (8) In deciding whether or not to make a declaration under this section the Court shall, to the extent possible given his or her age or understanding, give the child the opportunity to make his or her views on the matter known, and shall have regard to those views. (9) Where on an application under this section, the Court is satisfied that— (a) the child is a child to whom section 20 applies, and (b) where the child has not attained the age of 18 years, it is in the best interests of the child to make the declaration, it shall make a declaration that the applicant referred to in subsection (2)(b) is a parent of the child. (10) Any declaration made under this section shall be binding on the parties to the proceedings and any person claiming through a party to the proceedings, and where the Attorney General is made a party to the proceedings the declaration shall also be binding on the State. Declaration by Circuit Court of parentage of child to whom section 20 applies 22. (1) The persons specified in subsection (2) may apply to the Circuit Court for a declaration under this section that a person named in the application (in this section referred to as a “relevant person”) is the parent of a child to whom section 20 applies. (2) An application for a declaration under this section may be made, in relation to a child to whom section 20 applies, by— (a) the child, (b) the mother of the child, or (c) the relevant person. (3) The child to whom an application for a declaration under this section relates shall be joined as a party to the proceedings. (4) Subsections (5) to (8) of section 21 apply, with all necessary modifications, to an application under this section as they apply to an application under that section. (5) An application under this section shall be accompanied by evidence that— (a) the child concerned is a child to whom section 20 applies, and (b) the relevant person was, at the time referred to in section 20 (1)(c), an intending parent of the child concerned. (6) Subject to subsection (7), where on an application under this section it is proved on the balance of probabilities that— (a) the child concerned is a child to whom section 20 applies, and (b) the relevant person was, at the time referred to in section 20 (1)(c), an intending parent of the child concerned, the Circuit Court shall make a declaration that the relevant person is a parent of the child. (7) The Circuit Court shall not make a declaration under subsection (6) where it is satisfied that to do so— (a) would not be in the best interests of the child concerned, where the child has not attained the age of 18 years, or (b) would be contrary to the interests of justice. (8) Any declaration made under this section shall be binding on the parties to the proceedings and any person claiming through a party to the proceedings, and where the Attorney General is made a party to the proceedings the declaration shall also be binding on the State. Effect of declaration under section 21 or 22 23. Where a person is declared under section 21 or 22 to be a parent of a child, from the date on which the declaration is made— (a) the person shall be deemed to be the parent, under section 5 (1)(b), of the child, (b) the person, referred to in section 20 (1)(d), who provided a gamete that was used in the DAHR procedure that resulted in the birth of the child— (i) is not the parent of the child, and (ii) has no parental rights or duties in respect of the child, and (c) a reference in any enactment to a mother, father or parent of a child shall be construed as not including, in relation to the child to whom the declaration relates, the person referred to in paragraph (b). PART 3 Donor-Assisted Human Reproduction Acquisition by operator of DAHR facility of gamete or embryo 24. (1) The operator of a DAHR facility shall not acquire for use in a DAHR procedure a gamete provided by a donor unless, at the time of such acquisition, he or she also acquires the information specified in subsection (3) in respect of the donor. (2) The operator of a DAHR facility shall not acquire an embryo for use in a DAHR procedure or a further DAHR procedure unless, at the time of such acquisition, he or she also acquires the information specified in subsection (3) in respect of— (a) the donor or, as the case may be, each donor of the embryo who provided a gamete that was used in the formation of the embryo, and (b) where applicable, the donor of a gamete that was used in the formation of the embryo. (3) The information referred to in subsections (1) and (2), in relation to the donor concerned, is: (a) his or her name; (b) his or her date and place of birth; (c) his or her nationality; (d) the date on which, and the place at which, he or she provided the gamete; (e) his or her contact details. Performance of DAHR procedure 25. (1) A person shall not perform a DAHR procedure unless the person is— (a) a registered medical practitioner, or (b) a registered nurse. (2) A person shall not perform a DAHR procedure other than on the request of an intending parent. (3) A person shall not perform a DAHR procedure on the request of an intending parent unless— (a) he or she has first obtained the following information in respect of that intending parent— (i) his or her name, (ii) his or her date of birth, and (iii) his or her address and contact details, and (b) the following applies: (i) where the intending mother is the only intending parent, she has consented under section 9 to the parentage under section 5 of a child born to her as a result of the procedure; (ii) where the intending parents are the intending mother and her husband, civil partner or cohabitant— (I) the intending mother has consented under section 9 to the parentage under section 5 of a child born as a result of the procedure, and her declaration under section 9 (1)(c) includes a statement referred to in section 9 (3)(d) in respect of the husband, civil partner or cohabitant concerned, and (II) the husband, civil partner or cohabitant concerned has consented under section 11 to being the parent, under section 5 , of a child born as a result of the procedure. Use of gamete or embryo in DAHR procedure 26. (1) The operator of a DAHR facility shall not use or permit to be used in a DAHR procedure a gamete provided by a donor unless— (a) the gamete has been acquired in accordance with section 24 (1), and (b) the donor of that gamete— (i) has consented under section 6 to the use of the gamete in a DAHR procedure, or (ii) where the gamete is acquired from outside the State, has consented to the use of the gamete in a DAHR procedure, where that consent is substantially the same as that provided for in section 6 . (2) The operator of a DAHR facility shall not use or permit to be used in a DAHR procedure or a further DAHR procedure an embryo unless— (a) it has acquired the embryo in accordance with section 24 (2), and (b) the donor, or as the case may be, each donor of the embryo— (i) has consented under section 14 or 16 , to the use of the embryo in a DAHR procedure or, as the case may be, a further DAHR procedure, or (ii) where the embryo is acquired from outside the State, has consented to the use of the embryo in a DAHR procedure or a further DAHR procedure, where that consent is substantially the same as that provided for in section 14 or, as the case may be, section 16 . (3) The operator of a DAHR facility shall not use or permit to be used in a DAHR procedure a gamete provided by a donor, where he or she has become aware that— (a) the consent of the donor under section 6 has been revoked under sect …