Results 681-700 of 1,888 for speaker:Sharon Keogan

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (26 Apr 2022)

Sharon Keogan: I thank the Cathaoirleach. I appreciate it. The Irish citizen has no say in the governance of the WHO and so any handing over of power and responsibility to this body by our own directly-elected representatives must be thoroughly scrutinised. The treaty is built on the premise that while the technical expertise on how to govern and end a pandemic exists, the political will to do so is...

Seanad: Funding for Ukrainian Students in Irish Universities: Statements (27 Apr 2022)

Sharon Keogan: The Minister of State is very welcome. I am glad we have the opportunity today to talk about this and hopefully make some headway. I welcome the Cabinet's decision yesterday to create a new sub-committee to oversee assistance being given to people fleeing Ukraine. I trust this will provide a level of oversight which has so far been lacking. A committee is for discussion and debate,...

Seanad: Criminal Justice (Amendment) Bill 2022: Second Stage (27 Apr 2022)

Sharon Keogan: I welcome the members of the public who are with us today, particularly Rachel and Emma. I thank the drafters and proposers of this Bill. It touches on an important, raw area of our justice system. The persons who have to engage with that part of the justice system must be treated with the utmost care and respect.We have known for some time that there is much room for improvement when it...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (4 May 2022)

Sharon Keogan: I suppose there are many greats in Irish sport but there is none greater than Katie Taylor, and there is no greater achievement than hers last weekend. Our hearty congratulations go to her from this House. I wish to voice a concern shared by many others. It relates to the decision to use student accommodation to house Ukrainian refugees during the summer months. I understand the...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (5 May 2022)

Sharon Keogan: Hear, hear. I am calling for a debate on the World Health Organization pandemic treaty and its implications for Ireland's future freedoms and autonomy in responding to a health crisis, as well as the European Parliament's attitude towards a joint armed force and its implications for our time-honoured neutrality. We need to be talking about the big-picture stuff in this Chamber. We do help...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on International Surrogacy: Issues relating to International Surrogacy Arrangements and Achieving Parental Recognition: Discussion (28 Apr 2022)

Sharon Keogan: I have a few questions for Dr. Bracken. She has obviously spent much of her career on this subject. She is the author of two books. I will ask a question about her book, Same-Sex Parenting and the Best Interests Principle. Chapter 6 of this book examines the allocation of parentage in cases of surrogacy. The chapter seeks to identify a way to regulate surrogacy that adheres to the best...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on International Surrogacy: Issues relating to International Surrogacy Arrangements and Achieving Parental Recognition: Discussion (28 Apr 2022)

Sharon Keogan: I welcome Mr. Kenny Moore back. I was touched by his statements last week. Of all the witnesses here, I was most touched by his contribution, by the relationship he has with the surrogate mother, by the relationship he encourages with the surrogate mother and by how he agreed to allow the birth mother to be on the birth cert. I am heartened to hear he agrees with that. There are many...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on International Surrogacy: Issues relating to International Surrogacy Arrangements and Achieving Parental Recognition: Discussion (28 Apr 2022)

Sharon Keogan: What does Mr. Lennon consider that the ethical safeguards might be for a surrogate mother?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on International Surrogacy: Issues relating to International Surrogacy Arrangements and Achieving Parental Recognition: Discussion (28 Apr 2022)

Sharon Keogan: I am glad Mr. Lennon recognises the importance of the birth mother, particularly for Irish Gay Dads. It is important to me that the mother is safeguarded in some way.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on International Surrogacy: Issues relating to International Surrogacy Arrangements and Achieving Parental Recognition: Discussion (28 Apr 2022)

Sharon Keogan: That is fine. I thank Mr. Kenny Moore.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on International Surrogacy: Issues relating to International Surrogacy Arrangements and Achieving Parental Recognition: Discussion (28 Apr 2022)

Sharon Keogan: Does Dr. Bracken agree with the principle of the proposed AHR regulatory authority or some State organisation? Would she like to see that implemented in this country? An AHR federal authority was established in Canada with duties similar to what we are proposing in this country. It got abolished in 2013, I think for budgetary reasons. How does Dr. Bracken feel about having a regulatory...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on International Surrogacy: Issues relating to International Surrogacy Arrangements and Achieving Parental Recognition: Discussion (28 Apr 2022)

Sharon Keogan: I thank the witnesses for appearing before the committee today. My first question is for Ms O'Keeffe. The orders of reference for this committee say that we should ensure safeguards against the sale, trafficking and exploitation of children. How does she think this is best achieved? My second question relates to the authenticity of the DNA and the testing of same in this country. What...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on International Surrogacy: Issues relating to International Surrogacy Arrangements and Achieving Parental Recognition: Discussion (28 Apr 2022)

Sharon Keogan: Thank you. I would like a response with regard to cases where the Department cannot get in touch with the surrogate mother to secure consent. Is that something that Ms Byrne could answer?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on International Surrogacy: Issues relating to International Surrogacy Arrangements and Achieving Parental Recognition: Discussion (28 Apr 2022)

Sharon Keogan: If the father cannot contact the surrogate mother or her potential husband, how long does that stay in place? Let us say she cannot for a couple of years, does that mean that the emergency travel certificate cannot be issued?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on International Surrogacy: Issues relating to International Surrogacy Arrangements and Achieving Parental Recognition: Discussion (28 Apr 2022)

Sharon Keogan: Okay, that is fine.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on International Surrogacy: Issues relating to International Surrogacy Arrangements and Achieving Parental Recognition: Discussion (28 Apr 2022)

Sharon Keogan: Yes. Do the witnesses share the concern of Mr. Muiris O'Connor of the Department of Health in what he said to the committee on 7 April? He said, "The domestic prohibition on commercial surrogacy is predominantly based on ... ethical considerations relating to the welfare and commodification of the children involved, as well as the potential risks of coercion and exploitation of financially...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on International Surrogacy: Issues relating to International Surrogacy Arrangements and Achieving Parental Recognition: Discussion (Resumed) (5 May 2022)

Sharon Keogan: I thank the witnesses for coming in again. Ms Duffy is from the legal side of this. Can she give me a step-by-step breakdown of the process? When somebody comes to her, what happens? How many people has she assisted over the years? What are the legal costs around the service?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on International Surrogacy: Issues relating to International Surrogacy Arrangements and Achieving Parental Recognition: Discussion (Resumed) (5 May 2022)

Sharon Keogan: Yes.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on International Surrogacy: Issues relating to International Surrogacy Arrangements and Achieving Parental Recognition: Discussion (Resumed) (5 May 2022)

Sharon Keogan: Would Ms Duffy have access to those agreements?