Hi everyone, We realise it’s been a while since we have been able to post any updates but here we are with some good news. Last night we were invited to attend a meeting Dáil Éireann (big fancy government buildings) where Minister Harris presented to members of the Dáil a bill which amends the technical errors found to be in the Children and Family Relationships Act 2015. Minister Harris made it clear at the Dáil for people who are still confused about the bill, that what they were discussing last night is an amendment to an already existing legislation which was passed and signed into law more than three years ago. He clarified and essentially promised that the protection of children and parents who don’t fall under this bill (those who used a completely anonymous donor/those who use clinics abroad/those who did at home insemination/those who used surrogacy etc) would be protected under the Human Assisted Reproduction Bill which he stated would be discusses after summer recess at a round table meeting. The amendments to Part 2 and 3 of the CFRA 2015 will go through it’s final stage at the Seanad (Senate) this coming Tuesday and that will see the bill passed in both houses of the Oireachtas (Parliament). This will allow the President of Ireland to then sign the amendment and for training of staff at all regional HSE birth registration offices to commence. This in turn will allow for births from then onwards to be registered with both parents names on the birth certificate. We, however, need Part 9 to be implemented as this allows for people to declare retrospective parentage and re-register the birth of children who existed prior to the commencement of the Act, our daughter Cammie, being one of many. Until Part 9 is also implemented, we will be unable to get a corrected birth certificate for her and as a result, we can not get a passport. Once Part 9 is through we will be able to re-register her birth through a family court. So we still have quite a way to go but the progress made last night is very positive and many will benefit from it. The end, for our family and many others like us, is in sight but we are painfully aware that so many other families will still be waiting and so we will continue to fight for them and for all of those beautiful children because every family dynamic deserves to be recognised. We feel that any step in the right direction is progress made but the fight isn’t over yet. It felt promising that Minister Harris will be addressing the Human Assisted Reproduction Bill in the fall. He also came up to the public gallery to say hello to families who attended the Dáil yesterday. For now we have no more news. Again we wait and see what the coming weeks and months bring. Thank you for sticking around. Amanda and Lesley, xx.