Fine Gael Cork Senator, Colm Burke, has welcomed the publication today (Tuesday) by the Minister for Justice, Equality and Defence, Alan Shatter, of guidance for Irish couples on surrogacy arrangements made abroad.
Senator Burke questioned the Minister for Children, Frances Fitzgerald, last week at the Oireachtas Committee on Health and Children on this issue in light of the number of Irish people that are arranging for children to be born through surrogacy, in particular in the Ukraine, India and the US.
“The guide, published today, will give certainty to what is an extremely complex issue. The decision to have a child through surrogacy is one that is not taken lightly and every effort must be made to eradicate any issue that may further complicate the process for the parties involved.
“Safeguarding the interests of the child in question and ensuring that all of the appropriate procedures are adhered to when taking a child born through foreign surrogacy home to live in the Irish State must be a priority. This guidance document, which deals with issues relating to citizenship, parentage, guardianship and travel documentation for the child, will ensure that there is no doubt about what is legally expected of the parents and what needs to be done.
“In view of the number of Irish people that are arranging for children to be born through foreign surrogacy, a comprehensive document set out in black and white will dispel the legal fears and insecurities of many.
“Minister Shatter has said he intends to develop legislative proposals in this area in collaboration with the Department of Health, giving consideration to practical experiences and developments in the law of other jurisdictions. This will come as a welcome relief to many prospective parents who are hoping to extend their families in this way but are unsure of what lies ahead.”
