Minister for Health and Deputy Prime Minister Chris Fearne this evening argued that embryo freezing - part of the new embryo act amendments currently being discussed - will save more lives than the current law which was approved in 2012.
Speaking in parliament, Fearne said that "embryo freezing will save more lives than the law we have today, the chances will be better.The rate of success of embryos from the freezer have double the success rate compared to the procedures of the law in place today, (where the embryos are all implanted in the womb)."
"Embryo freezing is a measure in favour of life. All embryos are going to have the opportunity and none will be left in the freezer forever. We need to respect the dignity of the embryos, but we must remember that it is eight cells. We respect the fact that each embryo will have a chance to grow," said Fearne.
This reference to the embryo as 'eight cells' was at the center of Nationalist Party Leader Adrian Delia's criticism, in his argument following that of Fearne.
"He (Minister Fearne) did not say one word about children throughout his speech," argued Delia. "He never mentioned the child, and there was never a reference to the right of the child, not within the law and not within his discussion."
"Fearne made a statement that an embryo has eight cells only.. so isn't the embryo a human?" he asked.
Reading out the 2012 law, Delia highlighted how the law was written in such a way which uses language mentioning the human element, and compared it to the current amendment. "The rights of the children when they are still an embryo or a baby in the womb or when they are born are not protected in this law," he argued. He went on to ask what the rights are for embryos which are not going to be made use of. "Who is going to protect the human embryo and children in this country?" he asked, slamming the Child Commissioner for backing the amendments.
Earlier, Fearne said that he feels people's opinions put forward, both in favour of and against, the new amendments were 'genuine ones'. He added that similarly, the amendments being put forward are also done in a genuine way "to improve people's lives for the better.
Bringing up the factor of making IVF legal for LGBTIQ couples, Fearne argued that the same parliament had agreed on equality. "You cannot discriminate on the basis of sexuality, this is a principle we agreed on" he reminded those present.
With regards to the issue of incest, which has been brought up in concerns of these new amendments, Fearne said that this cannot happen as all individuals born through IVF procedures "will have access from the authorities so people will know that they are not from the same donor."
"I know I will get a lot of criticism for this law, but I am serene because I know that I am on the right side," he concluded.