A number of criteria attached to publicly-funded IVF treatment for couples will see a lot of people disappointed today.
Medical journalist June Shannon was speaking as Cabinet approved the scheme, which will start next month.
Around 3,000 couples a year will be able to avail of the service, with the HSE using private clinics.
To be eligible, couples will have to pass barriers related to age, Body Mass Index, whether they've had children before and eligibility criteria related to infertility conditions.
This is the first time in the history of the State there will be publicly-funded reproductive treatment.
Ms Shannon, who went through five cycles of IVF herself, told The Pat Kenny Show it is a very tough journey.
"It's welcome news this morning but I'll wait to see the limitations, there seem to be quite a few," she said.
"I understand that this is the first announcement and that limitations would need to be in place, so there'll be a lot of very disappointed people this morning.
"We just need to understand that infertility is heartbreaking; the fertility journey is one of the most toughest journeys you'd ever undergo.
"This is a very sensitive topic and my heart goes out to everyone who's listening who has been affected by this".
'Fertility lottery'
Ms Shannon said there are no guarantees with IVF.
"It looks like, from what I've read this morning, that it would be only people who've had one privately-funded cycle which I think is unfair," she said.
"Everyone knows who's been there that is takes a couple of cycles for success, if you get it: fertility treatment is a lottery, and that's what people need to understand from the get-go.
"There's absolutely no guarantees.
"There's also things like, 'What about same-sex couples? Single people?' all these people look like they may be excluded from this and they should be included as well.
"It's a first step, but there will be lots of disappointed people this morning - but it is welcome.
"We've been calling for it for so long".
'Huge financial outlay'
Ms Shannon said Ireland is still playing catch-up despite today's announcement.
"In England, and some parts of the NHS, they pay for three cycles," she said.
"Other countries are more generous or less generous, but definitely a lot more generous than just one cycle in most countries that I'm aware of.
"Ireland is way behind: we are one of the only countries in Europe that have absolutely no public funding for IVF.
"It's such a huge financial outlay: we spent €25,000 on our journey.
"That was all funded through the credit union, loads from family and friends, inheritance.
"We're still paying back that loan today even though our daughter is seven - [we were] very lucky to be successful in the end of it," she added.
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