President Marie-Louise Coleiro Preca and Health Minister Chris Fearne had a meeting at San Anton Palace on Thursday morning, a day after the president suggested that more time was needed for reflection on changes to the Embryo Protection Act. She also offered to mediate in the debate. 

"IVF treatment is a very delicate subject that has to be discussed in a serene environment that balances the heartache childless couples face with the sensitive ethical issues connected with embryos’ rights," she said, while appealing for calm and a longer period of reflection to enable voices to be heard. 

In a statement, the government said it had noted the President's comments and agreed that such a sensitive issue should ideally be discussed calmly and without hostility. 

It, however, reiterated its commitment to amend the law without undue delay, in view of its electoral mandate. It pointed out that both in the last legislature and in this one, Parliament through its Health Committee had had a long and detailed discussion on IVF.

It said there would be time and opportunity before the third (and final) reading of the bill for further talks and reflection. The bill started being debated in Parliament on Monday.   

The proposed amendments will, among other things, allow embryo freezing as long as prospective parents agree to give up unclaimed embryos for adoption. IVF services will also be offered to single and gay people. The bill also introduced non-commercial surrogacy.

The PN has said it will grant its MPs a free vote on the Bill. The Church has argued that the bill will turn children into a commodity. 

"Anyone who wants a child, whoever he or she may be, can ‘make’ one with the blessing of the proposed law. When the law introduces the possibility of anonymous donors of gametes, the possibility of using another woman’s womb for gestation (surrogacy), the freezing of embryos, it is the law itself that makes the child a commodity," the Church said. said.