Professor Deirdre Madden appointed first Chairperson of the Board of Assisted Human Reproduction Regulatory Authority

15 Oct 2025

On the 13^th October, Minister for Health Jennifer Carroll MacNeill established the Assisted Human Reproduction Regulatory Authority (AHRRA). The Minister has appointed Professor Deirdre Madden, of the School of Law at UCC, as the first Chairperson of the Board.

The new Assisted Human Reproduction Authority (AHRRA) was set up in October, following the establishment of the Health (Assisted Human Reproduction) Act 2024 legislation that was signed in in July. The AHRRA is a statutory and evidence-based regulatory agency that will aim to protect and promote the health and wellbeing of children being born through surrogacy, surrogates, and the intended parents of children born through surrogacy. 

Minister for Health, Jennifer Carroll MacNeill 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."

Professor Madden is a specialist in healthcare law and ethics, holding a Master’s degree in surrogacy and a PhD in the law relating to assisted human reproduction (AHR). 

She will be joined on the board by seven ordinary members. Ciara Merrigan, Dr Julie Kenneally, Professor David Crosby and Dr Brian Tobin are to join the board for a term of four years, while Roisin Molloy, Dr Samantha Doyle and Professor Mary Wingfield will be appointed for a term of three years.

Professor 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.”

The AHRRA has been established under section 122 of Part 9 of the Health (Assisted Human Reproduction) Act 2024.