Erin McGreehan (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Chair. Everyone is so welcome. This morning's meeting has been so positive and we do not often say that so I am grateful for all our guests' very positive contributions.

An awful lot of stuff I was looking at has been covered. Birth certificates were mentioned and Ms Roberts has clearly illustrated that. What struck me from her contribution was the undermining of the parents.

That urges me on but it also upsets me that parents are undermined. And it is clear that parents are undermined by Irish law.

I have been going from different committees to this one so I do not know if this was covered. Identity is a huge concept including cultural, familial and genetic varieties. My identity is very much about where I came from and the family I grew up with but there could be a different genetic identity. Can someone explain to a layperson how we can understand the genetic identity particularly from a donor or gestational surrogacy? How do we reconcile genetic identity and protect it? It is not even about protecting it but for people to understand it. There are lots of reasons genetics are important. Ms Baldwin spoke of how straight surrogacy is not as common now. Does she think that is positive or negative? I am not sure what is the difference but how does having siblings or half-siblings impact people on an emotional level? You have half-siblings from people who are not your parents at all - you do not recognise them and nor should you - but you still have a genetic link to people to whom you are not technically related. What is our guests' opinion from a legal or emotional side?