About Us Activities Board Members Functions Committees Membership of external bodies

Crisis Pregnancy Agency

The Crisis Pregnancy Agency was established by S.I. No. 446 of 2001, the Crisis Pregnancy Agency (Establishment) Order, 2001.

The Agency has the task of drawing up a national strategy to address the issue of crisis pregnancy, and to oversee its implementation. The strategy will address preventive issues, promote options (other than abortion) where a crisis pregnancy occurs, and will address the provision of counseling and medical services after crisis pregnancy (including post-abortion counseling).

The S.I. also provides for the establishment of a committee of not more than 20 members, whose function shall be to advise the Agency on any matters coming within the remit of the Agency.

Members of the Board are as follows:

• Ms Olive Braiden, Chairperson
• Ms Rosemary Grant
• Dr Linda Hogan
• Mr Martin Larkin
• Ms Geraldine Luddy
• Ms Pauline Moreau
• Mr Brian Mullen
• Mr Anthony O'Gorman
• Ms Margaret Ryan

Commission on Assisted Human Reproduction

The setting up of a Commission on Assisted Human Reproduction was approved in February 2000.

The terms of reference of the Commission are to prepare a report on the possible approaches to the regulation of all aspects of assisted human reproduction and the social, ethical and legal factors to be taken into account in determining public policy in this area.

The Commission is chaired by Professor Dervla Donnelly and membership comprises:

• Dr. Carol Barry-Kinsella, Consultant Obstetrician, Rotunda Hospital
• Dr. Declan Keane, Master, National Maternity Hospital
• Ms. Geraldine Luddy, Director, The Women's Health Council
• Dr. Aonghus Nolan, Scientist, Fertility Unit, UCHG
• Professor Andrew Greene, Geneticist, Crumlin Hospital and Professor of Genetics, UCD
• Ms. Marina Lynch, Department of Physiology, TCD
• Professor Tom Cotter, Professor of Biochemistry, UCC
• Ms. Deirdre Madden, Law Lecturer, UCC
• Mr. Gerry Whyte, Senior Law Lecturer, TCD
• Dr. Alpha Connelly, Legal Advisor, Department of Foreign Affairs
• Ms. Mary Cooke, 3rd Legal Assistant, Office of the A.G.
• Dr. Paul McCarthy, Child Psychiatrist, St. James's Hospital
• Ms. Noirin Hayes, Head of Social Sciences, DIT
• Dr. Tony Ryan, Paediatrician, Erinville Hospital, Cork
• Ms. Caroline Harrison, Counsellor, HARI Unit, Rotunda Hospital
• Ms. Benny Hennelly, Midwife, HARI Unit, Rotunda Hospital
• Ms. Nora Geary, Midwife, Erinville Hospital, Cork
• Ms. H. Browne, National Infertility Support and Information Group
• Dr. Glenda Mock, Medical Branch, Department of Health, Social Services and Public Safety, Northern Ireland
• Ms. Dora Hennessy, Principal Officer, Department of Health & Children

National Committee on Breastfeeding

The National Committee on Breastfeeding was established in December 2001, and held its inaugural meeting in March 2002. The focus of the Committee will be to review the implementation of the 1994 National Breastfeeding Policy, which details a series of recommendations aimed at improving the rates of breastfeeding in this country. Membership of the Committee is as follows:

• Ms. Maureen Fallon, National Breastfeeding Coordinator, Department of Health and Children;
• Professor Miriam Wiley, ESRI, Chairperson;
• Ms. Breda Galvin, East Coast Area Health Board;
• Dr. Meabh Ni Bhuinneain, Mayo General Hospital;
• Ms. Genevieve Becker, Irish National HPH Network;
• Ms. Pauline Treanor, Rotunda Hospital;
• Ms. Rosa Gardiner, South Eastern Health Board;
• Dr. Lucia Gannon;
• Ms. Catherine Murphy, Southern Health Board;
• Ms. Janet Calvert;
• Ms. Claire Allcutt;
• Ms. Mary Bird, La Leche League of Ireland;
• Dr. Margaret Fitzgerald, Food Safety Authority of Ireland;
• Dr. Michelle Dillon;
• Ms. Ann Ellis, Association of Lactation Consultants;
• Ms. Mary Healy, Midland Health Board;
• Ms. Aoife O'Brien, Women's Health Council;
• Ms. Margaret O'Driscoll;
• Ms. Mary Robinson;
• Ms. Margaret McDonnell, Department of Health and Children;
• Ms. Sinead Bromley, Department of Health and Children