O’Brien meets with representatives of ‘Irish Families Through Surrogacy’

Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage and Local Fingal TD, Darragh O’Brien has met again with representatives of the ‘Irish Families Through Surrogacy’ organisation to discuss the forthcoming Assisted Human Reproduction (AHR) legislation and the issues surrounding international surrogacy arrangements.
Minister O’Brien said the establishment of a time-bound joint Oireachtas sub-committee to consider the issue of international surrogacy and to report with recommendations was a very positive step and welcomed the fact that three Government Departments were working together on the issue.
Commenting he said, “I received an update from the Minister for Health who told me that the Department of Health, Department of Justice and the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth will bring a joint memo to Cabinet in the coming weeks.
“The purpose of the memo’s proposals will be to ensure that the rights, interests and welfare of all persons involved in international surrogacy arrangements – children born through surrogacy, surrogate mothers and intending parents – are considered by a soon to be established Oireachtas sub-committee.
“The Assisted Human Reproduction (AHR) Bill is a priority for the Government, and a commitment to enact this legislation is included in the Programme for Government. The Department of Health and the Office of the Attorney General will continue to work intensively to finalise this complex legislation, which is on the priority list for publication during the autumn legislative term. In terms of international surrogacy arrangements the Department of Health is continuing to engage with the Department of Justice and the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth in respect of this policy area.
“Having met with representatives of ‘Irish Families Through Surrogacy’ I really understand the importance of this matter and I will strongly support the establishment of the sub-committee when it gets to Cabinet and I look forward to this Committee getting underway,” he concluded.