Recognising International Commercial Surrogacy Could Be "Difficult To Justify"

Friday, 28 January 2022 09:52

By Caoimhe Harney

A new bill is before the Oireachtas.

Recognising international commercial surrogacy arrangements, where women in foreign countries receive payment to have babies for Irish parents, could be “difficult to justify”, according to an options paper drawn up by officials for a special Oireachtas committee.

Despite this, Irish couples travelling to Ukraine to have their babies via surrogacy are expected to receive special diplomatic assistance, as tension increases between the country and Russia.

So far, 14 families that are planning to have babies in Ukraine have contacted Fine Gael Senator Mary Seery-Kearney.

Any parents in the country currently or are planning to travel there soon are asked to register with the Department of Foreign Affairs.

Senator Seery-Kearney has said contingency plans are in place if the violence breaks out in Ukraine.

Currently there are no laws governing surrogacy in Ireland.

The committee is to be set up to make recommendations on how the law should treat international surrogacy in a new Bill that is currently before the Oireachtas.

But an options paper to be given to the new committee warns about the dangers of recognising or facilitating international commercial surrogacy arrangements.

Dr. Conor O' Mahony commented: "We have laws governing donor assisted reproduction.

"When it comes to a woman giving birth to a child but is not raising the child, there are all sorts of issues.

"The most popular place that Irish people go for surrogacy is Ukraine and California.

"The woman who carries the child is compensated," he said.

"There are all sorts of ethical and legal issues that arise," he added

He told Clem Ryan on this morning's Kildare Today that Mothers with children born through surrogacy are often left in limbo in Ireland.

Special Rapporteur on Child Protection & Senior Lecturer, School of Law, UCC, Dr. Conor O'Mahony :

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