Opposition MP Adrian Vassallo would vote against the in-vitro fertilisation Bill but support changes proposed by his parliamentary group, the Labour Party said yesterday.

Dr Vassallo opposed IVF saying it went against his conscience and was not mentioned in the electoral manifesto, the party said.

This was “a legitimate” position, the party added, and Dr Vassallo was free to express his thoughts and vote according to his conscience in Parliament.

The party said that an agreement was reached with Dr Vassallo after “cordial discussions” with Labour leader Joseph Muscat.

Dr Vassallo will vote against the Bill in the second reading but accepted to support changes proposed by the Opposition at committee stage.

The IVF Bill started being discussed in Parliament on Tuesday (see page 9).

The party disagrees that the Embryo Protection Authority should certify whether prospective parents will be eligible for IVF treatment.

It also opposes a legal limit on the number of eggs to be fertilised and the eventual number of embryos to be transferred to the woman. In both instances, the Bill puts a limit of two. Labour insisted these decisions should be taken by doctors depending on the individual case.

Meanwhile, Alternattiva Demokratika criticised Labour for not opposing the ban on embryo freezing – which will be allowed in exceptional circumstances – insisting that people with fertility problems should not have to depend on egg freezing that was an experimental technology.

ksansone@timesofmalta.com