Mary Seery Kearney (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I have come in here on many occasions and advocated for access to fertility. I speak ad nauseam, probably, about surrogacy, but also noting the fact that people with disabilities need access to surrogacy. It has been the consistent theme I have had with the Minister, Deputy Donnelly, as we bring through the AHR Bill. That comes from and is prompted in me by the extraordinary work of Selina Bonnie, a disability activist and changemaker. Sadly, Selina passed away last week. I want to pay tribute to her on the record of this House. I first met her on my very first International Women's Day as a Member of this House. She addressed the Committee on Disability Matters and spoke about her experience as a disabled woman in wanting to have fertility support. A practitioner told her she could have it only if she could guarantee that the child she would have would not be disabled, an appalling discrimination as regards her rights as a woman and a disabled woman to pursue her motherhood. Thankfully, she went on to have a beautiful daughter, and it was one of her proudest moments. She was the vice chair of Independent Living Movement Ireland and was an extraordinary advocate.

Once I met her on International Women's Day, I followed up because I was so moved, struck and challenged by her experience. We went on to have a friendship outside of politics in which we championed each other. I often got messages on particularly difficult days. She would send me a cheery message and was just an incredibly thoughtful person. She worked for South Dublin County Council advocating for disability rights there and was extraordinary. She was part of the Reproductive Justice campaign and an advocate for that. The best tribute we can give to her is to ensure that, as the AHR legislation comes through, persons with disabilities have absolute access to fertility treatments. When we guarantee that and I hear the Minister in this House guarantee that, I will pay tribute to Selina then. I just want her remembered by the Seanad.