Dr. Lydia Bracken:

International surrogacy is not recognised in the assisted human reproduction Bill as it currently stands. We propose that it should be recognised. However, for it to operate, whatever country the couple is travelling to would need to have a bilateral agreement with Ireland or there would need to be equivalence between its laws and the law here to ensure the identifiable gametes are used and other stipulations are met. Once that has been adhered to, it will be possible to construct a new provision or new legislation that would accommodate international surrogacy and ensure that the way in which parentage is allocated in the other country can then be recognised in Ireland, either before the couple leaves or once they come back to the country.