2.—(1) In this Act, unless the context otherwise requires —
“court” means the High Court or a Family Court;
“de facto partner”, in relation to a gestational mother (whether married or not) at a given point in time, means the man, if any, with whom the gestational mother is living in a relationship as if he were her spouse at that point in time;
“egg” means a live human egg and includes the cells of the female germ line at any stage of maturity but, except in the definition of “embryo”, shall not include an egg that is in the process of fertilisation or undergoing any other process capable of resulting in an embryo;
“embryo” means a live human embryo and includes an egg that is in the process of fertilisation or undergoing any other process capable of resulting in an embryo;
“fertilisation procedure” means —
(a)
the placing of an embryo or of sperm and eggs in a woman;
(b)
the artificial insemination of a woman; or
(c)
any other prescribed procedure for the assisted conception of children;
“gestational mother” means the woman who is treated as the mother of a child under section 6;
“sperm” means live human sperm and includes the cells of the male germ line at any stage of maturity.
[27/2014]
(2) Any reference in this Act to a marriage includes a reference to a void marriage if, at the time of such void marriage, both or either of the parties to the marriage reasonably believed that the marriage was valid.