Colm Burke (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I wish everyone a happy new year and a productive 2014. I raise the issue of surrogacy and the number of people travelling abroad, which was debated on television recently. With no legal provision in this country, children born abroad and coming into this country are not entitled to be adopted and citizenship is an issue. We are leaving a series of medical and legal issues sitting there. We must deal with this through legislation and examine the best way forward, particularly when one considers that the amount of money the person going through the pregnancy receives is very small compared with what the agencies that organise this charge. We cannot ignore this issue but must tackle it. I ask the Leader to raise it with the Minister for Justice and Equality and have a debate in the House, but we must also consider legislation and examine the best way forward for everybody involved.