Opinion: the State's committment to funding fertility treatments is welcome, but there's also an opportunity to provide additional supports
The announcement by Minister for Health, Stephen Donnelly that the Government are going to provide State funding for IVF treatments is long overdue, especially when compared to many of our European member states. While welcomed by some as a step in the right direction, it is likely that the Government will have learned from some of the challenges experienced by other EU member states when it comes to publicly funded IVF treatments. The Health (Assisted Human Reproduction) Bill 2022 provides that well needed support and indeed exceeds what some of our more progressive European neighbours are offering and have done for some time.
There is an opportunity to see beyond merely offering State funded IVF supports to those needing them and explore the wider range of fertility treatments that both couples, and individuals need. Ireland is a progressive country and one that has transitioned from an agrarian society to an entrepreneurial society is a relatively short space of time.
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From RTÉ Radio 1's Morning Ireland, Prof Mary Wingfield from the Merrion Fertility Clinic on Government plans for publicly funded IVF treatment
But however well-intentioned the Government decision to provide State support for those seeking IVF may be, could they have done more? How joined up is our strategy when it comes to rolling out State funded fertility treatments? Could we be a little more strategic in our thinking when it comes to this? Is there an opportunity for the Department of Health to work hand in glove with the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment to develop a longer-term strategy that addresses the need for State funded supports for IVF treatments, and provide some assistance to organizations that may need financial support for their employees who may be seeking other fertility treatments such as 'egg freezing'? I believe there is.
Say the word ‘speculum’ and most women grimace at its utterance. Say vagina in a non-medical context, and people tend to look at you funny. However, say egg freezing or employee fertility perk in the same sentence, and you might be greeted with yes please and where do I sign up? Employee fertility perks are arguably a feminist pathway to independence, offering control over fertility and the realisation that women are fully in control of their careers and when they want to start a family.
Employee fertility perks are becoming a strategic retention tool for many employers across the US and to a lesser but growing degree in Ireland and Europe but it is growing. A recent survey by Mercer found that US firms offering 'egg freezing' had risen from 5% in 2015 to 11% in 2022. In much larger firms (in excess of 22k employees) that number had risen from 6% to 19%, almost a fifth of the workforce.
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From RTÉ 2fm's Louise McSharry Show, Dr Cathy Allen from the Merrion Fertility Clinic on everything we need to consider about egg freezing
When Apple, Facebook and Intel announced in 2014 that they were considering covering the cost of fertility treatments such as planned oocyte cryopreservation or egg-freezing treatments, it was heralded as a progressive and radical evolution in the war for talent.
These perks provide female employees with viable options that allowed them to establish a career foothold without the conflicting pressures of choosing family planning over career. It may even hold the key to levelling the corporate playing field affording female employees time to establish their careers unencumbered by their reproductive biological timescales.
It is reasonable to conclude that offering employer-sponsored fertility benefits is remarkably progressive and family-oriented. Indeed, there may be opportunities for organisations of all shapes and sizes, and across multiple industries and sectors, to develop a cohesive and coherent strategy which integrates the Government commitment to fund IVF treatments for couples seeking financial support.
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From RTÉ Radio 1's Today with Claire Byrne, Brian O'Connell reports on the cost of IVF treatment
Ireland can also learn from some of the challenges other countries have experienced with State funded IVF. The UK’s ‘IVF postcode lottery’ determines whether you can avail of State funded support for IVF or whether you’ll have to go private. In Germany, same-sex couples and singles were excluded from accessing medically assisted reproduction.
Thankfully, in Ireland our positions on diversity, equality and inclusion are a matter of national pride and constitutionally guaranteed. There is a unique opportunity for the Government to create a cohesive, coherent and inclusive State funded fertility strategy that integrates a number of departments into developing and rolling out this strategy. If we can do this, we address the challenges faced by many couples and singles who may require different types of fertility treatment supports at different stages in their lives.
In research currently being conducted in UCC on how firms should develop employer sponsored fertility benefits, we argue there are a number of rules that firms should follow that may increase the likelihood that treatments like egg freezing are successful. The offer by the Government to provide State funded support for IVF treatment could form part of any fertility benefits offered by firms in this country.
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From RTÉ 2fm's Jennifer Zamparelli show, Vicki Healy on her 13 IVF cycles, seven miscarriages and a miracle baby born at 25 weeks
While fertility benefit rules may be useful for organisations considering them as an employee attraction and retention strategy, the Government might also benefit from understanding how those types of rules might apply to the rollout of State Funded IVF. Were Government departments to work together, they may be able to offer a suite of fertility benefits that address the growing needs of a much wider cohort of couples (including same-sex) and singles, seeking support to start a family.
At a time when women in the US are losing the fundamental right to bodily autonomy, it is incredible that our small country continues to punch well above its weight on social issues. Last week's budget signalled loud and clear that we, as a country, recognise that women’s rights are fundamental to our future economic and societal success. It appears we have progressed from a country of parochial conservatism to one of progressive inclusiveness. Mná na hÉireann have spoken and the Government are listening. Not bad for a little country where contraception was effectively illegal until 1980....
UCC researchers Dr Clíodhna MacKenzie and Prof Thomas Garavan would like to hear from firms offering or planning to offer employer-sponsored fertility benefits
The views expressed here are those of the author and do not represent or reflect the views of RTÉ
