Sharon Keogan (Independent) | Oireachtas source

I move amendment No. 1:

In page 15, between lines 16 and 17, to insert the following:

“(iv) anyone who wishes to avail of the AHR, any surrogacy services or wishes to be a commissioning parent shall be required to meet all of the same requirements and standards as a person wishing to adopt a child;”.

These amendments outline specific regulations and penalties relating to surrogacy services and the abandonment of children conceived through surrogacy. They emphasise the importance of protecting the rights and well-being of children born through surrogacy arrangements and of imposing consequences on individuals who abandon such children.

The references to the Oviedo Convention, an international treaty aimed at protecting human rights in the field of biomedicine, underscore the commitment to upholding ethical principles and safeguarding surrogacy practices. By aligning with the standards set forth in the convention, the amendments aim to ensure that surrogacy services are provided in a manner that respects the rights and dignity of all parties, particularly the children conceived through such arrangements.

The amendment imposing penalties on individuals who abandon children after availing of surrogacy services will serve as a deterrent against negligent and irresponsible behaviour that could harm the child or the birth mother's well-being. By prohibiting such individuals from offering surrogacy services again, the legislation seeks to prevent further occurrences of child abandonment and to hold accountable those who fail to fulfil their responsibilities as parents.

The delineation of fines and imprisonment for offenders reflects the seriousness of child abandonment in the context of surrogacy and underscores the legal consequences faced by individuals who violate these regulations. By offering summary conviction and conviction on indictment options for penalties, the amendments provide a range of consequences based on the severity of the offences and aim to deter individuals from engaging in actions that could harm children born through surrogacy.

The amendments underscore the legislative commitment to protecting the rights of children born through surrogacy, preventing child abandonment and holding accountable individuals who neglect their parental responsibility in the context of surrogacy arrangements. By combining legal penalties with ethical standards rooted in international instruments such as the Oviedo Convention, the amendments seek to create a framework upholding the well-being and integrity of children conceived through surrogacy services.