Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi yesterday said IVF legislation could be presented to Parliament in the coming “weeks” after a discussion to take place within the PN parliamentary group.

Dr Gonzi also hinted that the law would not favour embryo freezing, despite this having been recommended by a parliamentary committee made up of MPs from both sides of the House.

“Thank God we waited because we discovered technological advances that will help us overcome difficulties of conscience over this matter... thanks to scientific developments, these difficulties can be addressed or reduced,” Dr Gonzi told his interviewer on Radio 101.

This means the law may favour the more experimental method of oocyte vitrification, which had been endorsed by Health Minister Joe Cassar.

This involves freezing sperm and eggs before fertilisation, rather than freezing embryos afterwards.

However, it is unlikely the law will ban embryo freezing altogether since situations may arise where this would be necessary once fertilisation occurs, a source close to the discussions has told The Times.

The legislation is also likely to cater just for married couples, especially now that divorce is going to be introduced.

In fact, Dr Gonzi stressed yesterday that the interests of children should be seen as the priority in all of this. He would not allow IVF to be used for children to be raised in an environment that would “spell disaster for them”, he said without elaborating.

The parliamentary committee had suggested IVF should be made available for heterosexual couples in stable relationships – primarily because Malta did not yet have divorce legislation and there were many couples who were in a stable relationship but prevented from marrying.

However, while restricting the procedure to married couples, since Maltese divorce would only be granted after four years of separation the cohabitation, law could provide a legal framework by which to allow IVF for couples who are not yet eligible to get married.

Once approved in Parliament, IVF would be offered by the State at Mater Dei Hospital, which already has the necessary equipment.