Regulator for fertility services plans to start selecting board by end of year

Assisted Human Reproduction Regulatory Authority had been expected to begin work much earlier

The regulator was set up under the Health (Assisted Human Reproduction) Act 2024 to regulate fertility treatments. Picture: iStock

The long-awaited new regulator for fertility services only plans to have started selecting its board by the end of this year by the end of this year, it said.

The Assisted Human Reproduction Regulatory Authority (AHRRA) published its first business plan on Wednesday.

By the end of December, it hopes to have procured suitable temporary premises and have core services and IT in place for its work. 

It will have approved terms of reference and work plans for its advisory committees.

The AHRRA will have commenced the selection process of board and external committee members, it said.  

It also intends to start issuing quarterly newsletters to stakeholders.

The regulator was set up under the Health (Assisted Human Reproduction) Act 2024 to regulate fertility treatments. 

This includes IVF, donor-assisted human reproduction and surrogacy.

However, it had been expected to begin work much earlier. 

A package to fund expanded access to infertility care was announced as part of Budget 2025 in October 2024. 

Up to now, people who need donor-assisted fertility treatment are still waiting for access.

Colm O'Leary is the AHRRA chief executive.

“Since my appointment in April 2026, the board and I have been working to deliver an appropriate workplace environment and build a strong team to enable the AHRRA to deliver effective regulation as quickly as possible for the families who depend upon it,” he said.

He promised “an intensive activity schedule” next year.

He said recruitment for directors in surrogacy, legal affairs, assisted human reproduction, licensing and compliance, and corporate affairs has started.

“We are committed to extensive consultation with service users, advocacy and support groups, and treatment providers over the coming months to ensure our frameworks are evidence-informed, practical, and highly robust before our licensing powers commence in 2028,” he said.

Health minister Jennifer Carroll MacNeill welcomed the business plan. 

The National Infertility Support and Information Group has previously warned women are “incredibly distressed” by the uncertainty.

Caitriona Fitzpatrick said: “There are people who heard it announced in 2024 that donor conception would be included in the publicly funded scheme from 2025 and they have held off and waited.” 

She went on to say these people have lost valuable time waiting.