Emer Higgins (Dublin Mid West, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank all our guests. Deputy Murnane O'Connor spoke about challenges, and we have been given a significant challenge of trying to navigate our way through a very complex issue. We can do that only by means of cross-party support and cross-departmental collaboration. I thank our guests for all they are doing to achieve that.

The main message I have taken from this meeting is that the Departments will not facilitate the unlawful movement of children across borders and that emergency travel certificates will be issued only where there is reasonable cause to believe a child is or may be an Irish citizen. That is important from a safeguarding perspective, as well as when it comes to affording rights to both the child and his or her family. Our guests outlined the robust processes that are in place to prevent, insofar as possible, child trafficking, and referred to the stringent DNA testing at that emergency travel certificate stage. Have there ever been failures in this regard? Are there any cases we need to examine? I hope there are not, but I would certainly love to hear there are not.

What changes to streamlined processes could be introduced to remove as much stress as possible for families? Are bilateral agreements in place, and if not, could they be, with frequently used countries to minimise that stress for both the surrogate and the expectant parents where possible? Are there ways to speed it up and streamline it while ensuring that all the safeguards our guests eloquently outlined will remain in place to protect the child and all the parties involved?