UCC professor is named chairperson of new health agency
A professor at UCC has been appointed to the board of a new State agency protecting the wellbeing of children born via assisted human reproduction (AHR) treatments.
Professor Deirdre Madden of the School of Law at UCC was made the first chairperson of the newly established Assisted Human Reproduction Regulatory Authority (AHRRA).
She was appointed by Minister for Health Jennifer Carroll MacNeill TD who officially established the agency on Monday.
The AHRRA is a statutory, independent, evidence-based, regulatory agency created to protect and promote the health and wellbeing of children born, or to be born, as a result of AHR treatment. It will also work to protect anyone undergoing, or about to undergo, AHR treatment, and intending parents.
Commenting on her appointment, Prof. Madden said: “Assisted human reproduction technologies are a critical component of modern healthcare. The new regulatory structure is crucial to ensuring the health, wellbeing, and legal rights of children born through AHR or surrogacy, intending parents and donors.
“My role is to ensure that the AHRRA operates with the highest standards of prudence, ethics, and transparency, and with sensitivity. I believe we can deliver on our duties to the wider public, but also those who are service users, intending parents and children.
“This will make a positive real-world impact in each family's journey,” added Prof. Madden.
Prof. Deirdre Madden has been a member of many national advisory committees, expert working groups, and regulatory bodies in the areas of bioethics, patient safety, and healthcare regulation.
She has been an Ethics Reviewer for the European Commission for over 20 years and has been a visiting professor in the United Kingdom (UK), United States (US), and Australia.
Professor Madden was elected to the Royal Irish Academy in 2020 and was Deputy Chair of the Health Service Executive and Chair of its Safety and Quality Committee from 2019-2024.
On Monday, Minister Carroll MacNeill also announced her intention to appoint a further seven people as ordinary members of the board of the AHRRA.
One of the seven members is set to be Dr Julie Kenneally who holds a degree in Genetics and a PhD from UCC.
She said: “Establishing the AHRRA brings essential oversight to this important part of the health service.
“Professor Madden has extensive expertise in healthcare law and ethics, including assisted human reproduction and surrogacy, bioethics, patient safety, and healthcare regulation.
“I am confident that Professor Madden’s comprehensive experience will ensure that the AHRRA fulfils its statutory mandate.”