Ms Ciara Merrigan:

The first question was about why we are calling for legislation. The main reason is to protect all parties, our children, the rights of the surrogate and the rights of the intended parents too, which means all three parties involved. Without legislation, there is room for exploitation. We all understand that there are bad people in the world and, without legislation, they can do bad things. Irish Families Through Surrogacy is calling for legislation to ensure the systems, processes, safeguards and regulations are in place to protect all parties involved.

The Senator asked about pathways to parenthood. As I said in my statement, I am not recognised as Clara and Matthew's legal mother. In the country they were born in, I was recognised as their legal mother. We need to look abroad, at the systems in Canada, the USA and the UK. I know the committee spoke with Ms Natalie Gamble yesterday. She explained how we can put in place a system to have a post-birth transfer of parentage to the intended parents. It would be post birth and not after a long wait. In my own situation, my children were two years and ten months old when my husband received legal parentage in the State. We call on the Government to implement legislation so that the process is done quickly for the child, in the child's best interests, and so that all three parties, the surrogate mothers, the children, and the intended parents are all protected.