Press Release 18th October 2021
Joint press release from Equality for Children and Irish Families Through Surrogacy.
Irish Families Through Surrogacy and Equality for Children are extremely concerned to read Daniel Murray’s Sunday Business Post article yesterday on 17.10.21. In this article he stated that the Government will be deferring legislating for international surrogacy because of potential legal difficulties.
This goes against any information we have been told by all Government representatives we have met in recent months. We have extensive cross-party support. We have met with representatives from the Departments of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth, the Department of Justice and the Department of Health over the last few months and have been reassured that international surrogacy is a top priority within the Assisted Human Reproduction Bill. We have been repeatedly informed that all three departments are working diligently at “charting a path” and “exploring resolutions” towards providing a pathway to parenthood via international surrogacy.
We hope that despite the information presented in the article published yesterday, that this is still the case.
Irish families have been waiting for adequate legislation since 2000 when the Commission on Assisted Human Reproduction was established by then Minister of Health and Children Micheál Martin. Many Irish children born through surrogacy are approaching 18 years of age, for some it is already too late to have a legal relationship with both their parents.
Prof. Conor O’Mahony, special rapporteur for child protection, published his report in December 2020. Read the report here. He clearly outlines the importance of the child’s best interest in the case of international surrogacy and outlined several clear pathways to parenthood so that the child can have a legal relationship with both parents. If these recommendations are not followed, the lack of an appropriate legal ethical framework and regulation at present leaves hundreds of Irish children unprotected and vulnerable with no hope of a permanent legal relationship with both of their parents.
The urgency of recognising our children’s equal rights cannot be ignored.
Irish Families Through Surrogacy
Equality for Children
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