Press Release June 8th 2022
Wednesday, 8th June 2022: For the first time, national research has revealed the public’s opinions on the topic of surrogacy in Ireland. The survey conducted by research agency iReach Insights questioned a nationally representative sample of Irish adults during the month of May this year. The results reveal an overwhelming majority, 81%, support the inclusion of international surrogacy in the Assisted Human Reproductive (AHR) bill. This jumps to 87% support amongst all females and again to 87% amongst adults aged 25 – 34 years old.
Over two thirds (68%) of adults feel strongly about the inclusion of international surrogacy in the AHR bill. The majority (80%) of adults think all Irish children should have the right to a legal relationship to the person that is genetically their mother or father. Currently Irish legislation only recognises the male who is genetically linked to the child and the female who gives birth to the child. A woman who is genetically the mother of the child but did not give birth has no legal rights under current Irish law.
The results mirror those of the 2013 Constitutional Convention which resulted in a vote of 81 to 12 in favour of changing Irish law to incorporate the rights to parentage, guardianship, and upbringing of children. The convention was tasked with debating the rights to parental relationships in the context of LGBTQ+ relationships. Over 1 in 10 Irish adults (13%) have had or know someone who has had a child via surrogacy. This increases to 16% amongst males and 31% of adults aged 18-24. The majority (85%) of all adults would support an Assisted Human Reproductive (AHR) bill that would include provision for the regulation of IVF and the establishment of domestic surrogacy in Ireland, highest amongst females at 91%.
Commenting on the research today, Chairperson of the Assisted Human Reproductive Coalition, Elaine Cohalan said; “This research, which for the first time polls the opinions of the nation on the topic of international surrogacy and the rights to parentage, clearly shows that the vast majority of Irish people strongly support the inclusion of international surrogacy in the proposed AHR bill and believe that the law needs to establish a legal relationship for all Irish children with their parents.” Cohalan continued; “Over the past number of weeks the Special Joint Oireachtas Committee on International Surrogacy has heard first-hand accounts from Irish parents of the struggles faced without legislation, opinions from legal and medical experts on the area of international surrogacy as well as from the Government’s Special Rapporteur on Child Protection, Professor Conor O’Mahony, all of whom supported the inclusion of international surrogacy in the AHR bill. It is our hope that the clear view from the experts, parents and public opinion is listened to by the Government and the AHR bill is amended to include international surrogacy.”
The publication of the results of the research coincides with the last public meeting of the Special Joint Oireachtas Committee on International Surrogacy which takes place this Thursday 9th June. The committee which was set up to consider and make recommendations on measures to address issues arising from international surrogacy has heard from experts in the legal and medical fields from Ireland and internationally, along with personal testimonies from affected individuals and interest groups. The committee is now due to draft a report with its recommendations for consideration of Government.
ENDS
Link to press release here.
