Expansion of Parentage Recognition for Donor Conceived Families
The Minister for Health has signed the Health (Assisted Human Reproduction) Act 2024 (Commencement) Order 2026 S.I. No. 160/2026. As of 20th April 2026, this Order officially commenced three subsections of Section 232 of the Health (Assisted Human Reproduction) Act 2024.
The Health (Assisted Human Reproduction) Act 2024 (“the 2024 Act”) was signed into law by the President in July 2024. The 2024 Act provides Ireland’s first and much needed comprehensive framework for assisted human reproduction and surrogacy practices.
Section 232 of the 2024 Act amends the Children and Family Relationships Act 2015, to address the gaps that existed in the legal recognition of non-birth parents. The commencement of this section will now allow for the recognition of a legal relationship between children conceived through non-clinical conception and their non-birth parent. It is intended that the right to parental recognition will be expanded to parents who have conceived a child outside of a fertility clinic, where there is a known donor, and for certain procedures that took place outside of Ireland.
The commencement of the S.I. No. 160/2026 will allow parents to apply to the Court to obtain a declaration of parentage and, thereafter, if successful, to update their child’s birth certificate to reflect their legally recognised parental position. This section of the act will apply to children born before 4th May 2020.
This commencement will provide a clear legal pathway for families to secure their parental status and is a welcomed milestone in providing a comprehensive framework for the regulation of assisted human reproduction practices.
The Health (Assisted Human Reproduction) Act 2024 (Commencement) Order 2026 S.I. No. 160/2026 is available here. The Health (Assisted Human Reproduction) Act 2024 is available here.
If you would like any further information or advice on the information mentioned within this article, please contact Sinéad Keavey from our Healthcare team.
*This information is for guidance purposes only and does not constitute, nor should be regarded as, a substitute for taking legal advice that is tailored to your circumstances.
