Experiences from a Constitutional State: Ireland’s Problematic Embryo

... A significant aspect of infertility treatments in Ireland is their controversial nature due to the unresolved questions about the legal status of the embryo (Cotter, 2009). ART often involves the storage and disposal of 'excess' embryos, which is against the teachings of the Catholic Church, the country's most prominent and influential religion. ...

... Ireland has no official body or legislation for the regulation and licensing of clinics offering IVF or other ART, despite their presence in the country since the late 1980s (Cotter, 2009). The only guidance available to physicians practising in this area are the Medical Council's Ethical Guidelines (2004). ...