Ms Sharon O'Shea:

I made a few notes here. Openness and honesty are key. Counselling will help to open up the lines. If there is any awkwardness or anything that needs to be spoken about, it can be done. The biggest issue is the legal side of things. People need to have the proper paperwork in place. People need to know where they stand in future. At the moment, Marie, John, Patrick and I are definitely in limbo. The names of intended parents need to be on the birth certificate. Lucy was born by surrogacy. That is okay; I have that document. However, a surrogate does not give someone a legal right to a baby or anything. The names of the intended parents need to be on the birth certificate. We need honesty and openness around the whole issue. Talking and reaching out to people in this situation definitely help. We appreciate people like those involved in the Irish Fertility Counsellors Association who are coming together to help other families through this. Those of us in Donegal certainly do and I know Marie does. Please God, the ball will get rolling another bit and we will get sorted.