Paul Gavan (Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Senators for bringing this Bill to the Seanad. In particular, I recognise Senator Ardagh for the courageous way in which she has not just championed this issue but spoke of her own personal experience.

Senator Seery Kearney has made a powerful speech that will be hard to follow. She has asked many pertinent questions and got to the heart of the concerns that so many people have about this issue. I hope that the Minister gives her direct responses, particularly concerning timelines because I think that a number of us share the Senator's concern about timelines. We have heard reassurances before and, frankly, they have not been delivered on. Let us see how much clarity we get today and I would welcome clarity.

Sinn Féin has long called for a much-needed regulatory framework for assisted human reproduction treatments and related research. Of course, we passionately believe that AHR should be part of a properly financed national health service. We have long spoken about the need to address the difficult question of international surrogacy arrangements. This is an area we need to give serious consideration to and we must get it right. I understand there are very complex moral and ethical issues that need to be addressed. I acknowledge that the Joint Committee on International Surrogacy, which was established last year, did great work in a very tight timeframe. We need a rights-based approach that will protect those involved and does not lend itself to permitting the exploitation of any kind but which fundamentally recognises the situation that some families have found themselves in.

I will speak briefly about retrospective parentage because it is an important issue. I am very conscious of the issue and the uncertainty that many families in this position face every day. This uncertainty has caused immeasurable stress and strain and we are obliged to alleviate that as soon as reasonably possible. There are many cases affected by this issue. My colleagues and I have spoken to many families who are living with this stress and strain every day. Indeed, some months ago members of the Sinn Féin Party heard a very powerful presentation on this very topic. A case I remember in particular is that of Antoinette and her husband, Barry, from County Offaly, whose children Eanna and Doireann were born in Kyiv.  Antoinette and Barry have spoken here and publicly about the stress placed on them by the current legal limbo. The law, as it stands, means that when those children arrived in the State, Antoinette was not legally their mother despite the fact that she is recognised as such in Ukraine. It is heartbreaking to hear these stories about families who are in this legal limbo.

I cannot say any more than what was said in the previous speech. Sinn Féin is very happy to support this Bill. We really need to see delivery in an inclusive fashion and along the principles of a fully funded national health service.