Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/641079
4 maltatoday, WEDNESDAY, 17 FEbruArY 2016 News Busuttil: 'We stand by embryo protection law' MiriaM Dalli Although the National- ist Party is yet to take an offi- cial position on embryo freez- ing, leader Simon Busuttil told Maltatoday that the opposition stood by the Embryo Protection Act – the IVF legislation enact- ed in 2012. "We stand by the embryo pro- tection law which was passed by parliament unanimously. Sta- tistics are showing that it is suc- cessful," Busuttil said, referring to a report tabled by the Embryo Protection Authority last year. the report showed a 28.82% success rate from all cycles car- ried out in 2014. Busuttil's comment echoed an identical reply given by shadow health minister Claudette Butt- igieg to this newspaper. When contacted, the shadow cabinet members who serve in the Maltese parliament told Maltatoday that the parliamen- tary group had yet to discuss the matter. "We presented a law that avoided moral and ethical is- sues and which enjoyed consen- sus," PN deputy leader Beppe Fenech Adami said, referring to the 2012 law. "there are no scientific stud- ies that show that changes are required. We will now wait for the government proposal and proceed from there. All the Prime Minister has done so far is kite-f lying." Prime Minister Joseph Mus- cat had told Maltatoday that he was "resolute" in his aim of introducing embryo freezing. An inter-ministerial committee was subsequently set up to look into it. Embryo freezing was banned in 2013 when the Embryo Pro- tection Act was introduced with support from both sides of the house. the legislation, piloted by former justice minister Chris Said, allows for the freezing of eggs and bans any form of sperm or egg donation and surrogacy. the law provides exceptions under a blanket 'force majeure' proviso, to be decided by the new authority when embryo freezing can be allowed, and whether such embryos can be put for up for adoption – for ex- ample, in the case of the moth- er's death. "this is the best legislation that we have and it enjoys consensus and parliamentary unanimity, something which makes me proud," Said said when contacted, adding that the parliamentary group would nonetheless discuss it. Shadow social policy minister Paula Mifsud Bonnici, who has publicly spoken of "protecting the embryo", insisted that the 2012 law was good enough. "At the same time, we don't know what the government is pro- posing," she added. Shadow economy minister Claudio grech argued that the current legislation was serving its purpose, although one had yet to see what was being pro- posed before ruling any chang- es out. Jason Azzopardi and Mar- these Portelli, shadow justice and transport ministers re- spectively, would not share their personal thoughts on embryo freezing, also reiterat- ing that a discussion within the parliamentary group was first required. "I have my own thoughts on the subject but I will first dis- cuss them within the parlia- mentary group," Portelli said. Questions sent to PN deputy leader Mario de Marco re- mained unanswered at the time of going to print. 2014 fertility figures the Embryo Protection Au- thority is the sole regulator of all assisted reproductive tech- nology fertility treatments us- ing oocytes and sperm, carried out in both public and private hospitals. During 2014, the authority re- ceived 170 applications for IVF spread and performed in Janu- ary, March, July and November. 142 cycles were self-funded by patients whilst 28 received gov- ernment-funded cycles. Mater Dei started offering free services every eight weeks in January last year. out of the 170 cycles, 66.47% were undergoing their first cy- cle. 159 cycles had viable em- bryo transfers. out of the 170, only 49 resulted in pregnancies, meaning a 28.82% of successful pregnancies out of all the cy- cles. there was also a success- ful pregnancy rate of 30.82% of the total embryo transfers made. only six multiple pregnan- cies were reported, and all twin pregnancies. out of the 49 pregnancies, 36 were from 129 fresh IVF cycles. 12 pregnancies were reported from 39 thawed cycles and one pregnancy from the two com- bined cycles using fresh and thawed oocytes. Secure Investment Secure Investment Issue of Issue of €120,000,000 120,000,000 in in Fixed Rate Malta Fixed Rate Malta Government Stocks Government Stocks (subject to the over (subject to the over-allotment option allotment option up up to a maximum of to a maximum of €80,000,000 80,000,000) MALTA GOVERNMENT MALTA GOVERNMENT STOCKS STOCKS _______ _______ (i) (i) 1.5% 1.5% Malta Government Stock Malta Government Stock (Fourth Issue) (Fourth Issue) maturing aturing in in 2022, 2022, and and _______ (ii) (ii) 2. 2.5% Malta % Malta Government Stock Government Stock (First Issue) (First Issue) maturing in 2036 maturing in 2036, , or or (iii) Any combination of the above two Stocks which in the (iii) Any combination of the above two Stocks which in the aggregate shall be aggregate shall be €120,000,000 120,000,000 Fixed Rate Malta Government Stocks Applications Applications open open on on Monday Monday 22 22 nd nd February, February, 2016 2016 at at 8.30 30 a.m. and and close close on on the the time time and and dates dates The Treasury announces the issue of €120,000,000 Malta Government Stocks subject to an over-allotment option up to a maximum of €80,000,000 as follows: MALTA GOVERNMENT STOCK FOR SAFE INVESTMENT AND LIQUIDITY WITH INTEREST PAID UP MALTA GOVERNMENT STOCK FOR SAFE INVESTMENT AND LIQUIDITY WITH INTEREST PAID UP TO THE DAY OF RE TO THE DAY OF RE-SALE OF SALE OF STOCK STOCK SECURITY SECURITY CONTINUOUS LIQUIDITY CONTINUOUS LIQUIDITY INTEREST EVERY SIX MONTHS INTEREST EVERY SIX MONTHS (The value of the investment may go up or down during the tenor of the Stock.) Treasury Department, The Mall Building, The Mall Treasury Department, The Mall Building, The Mall - Floriana, Floriana, Malta Malta The The Price Price for for each each Stock Stock at at (i) and and (ii) (ii) above, above, offered offered for for subscription subscription by by members members of of the the public public shall shall be be established established on on Thursday Thursday 18 18 th th February February 2016 2016, based based indicatively indicatively on on the the prevailing prevailing secondary secondary market market prices, prices, and and shall shall be be announced announced through through a Press Press Release Release issued issued by by the the Department Department of of Information Information (DOI) (DOI). Applications Applications open open on on Monday Monday 22 22 nd nd February, February, 2016 2016 at at 8.30 30 a.m. and and close close on on the the time time and and dates dates as as hereunder, hereunder, or or earlier earlier at at the the discretion discretion of of the the Accountant Accountant General General: •at at 5.00 00 p.m. on on Wednesday Wednesday 24 24 th th February, February, 2016 2016 for for applications applications by by any any single single and/or and/or joint joint applicants applicants which which in in the the aggregate aggregate do do not not exceed exceed €100 100,000 000 per per person, person, and and •at at 12 12.00 00 (noon) (noon) on on Monday Monday 29 29 th th February, February, 2016 2016 for for applications applications in in the the form form of of sealed sealed bids bids (auction) (auction). Application Application forms forms may may be be obtained obtained from, from, and and lodged lodged at, at, all all Members Members of of the the Malta Malta Stock Stock Exchange Exchange and and other other authorized authorized Investment Investment Service Service Providers Providers on on the the indicated indicated dates dates. Application Application forms forms may may also also be be downloaded downloaded from from the the Treasury's Treasury's website website at at www www.treasury treasury.gov gov.mt mt with with effect effect from from Friday Friday 19 19 th th February February, 2016 2016. Bids Bids on on the the prescribed prescribed forms forms are are to to be be transmitted transmittedby byfax fax on on2596 25967210 7210or orby by e-mail mail at at the the e-mail mail addresses addresses indicated indicated on on the the application application forms forms or or deposited deposited in in the the Tender Tender Box Box at at the the Treasury's Treasury's premises premises in in Floriana Floriana.