Ms Annette Hickey:

On the questions relating to the birth certificate, if the child is born in Ireland, it will have an Irish birth certificate, so we will have some control over that birth certificate.

If a child is born in Ukraine or the US, however, then it will have a Ukrainian or US birth certificate. We cannot impact or make any changes to birth certificates issued by another country.

Regarding the comment that this is a business, I am a surrogacy solicitor and I am very proud that I am. I am providing an essential service for intending parents trying to navigate this journey in the absence of legislation. The recommendations that I have put forward would, in essence, reduce my role and possibly eliminate it. Therefore, if legislation and a regulatory framework are brought forward, the necessity for surrogacy solicitors and barristers will reduce. Hopefully, this answers the question.