Jennifer Murnane O'Connor (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I welcome that the Christmas bonus is being paid this week. I also welcome the €5 million announced by the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media, Deputy Catherine Martin, for community pantos. I spoke to her about Striking Productions in Carlow, a community panto which has lost a lot of funding.

Christmas is about families. Why is the assisted human reproduction Bill being delayed? We need to recognise families engaged in international surrogacy. Our society now knows there are many ways to become a family, and we must recognise that the law must catch up in that regard. All families are equal. When can we expect the Bill to come before the House? Many families in my area have contacted me about it. It is urgent. I ask that the Bill be brought through the House as soon as possible.

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