Lorraine Clifford-Lee (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I will be extremely brief. This is a wonderful day for everybody who has worked so hard to get us to this point. When the Minister came into office, he promised a revolution in women’s healthcare. He is delivering that revolution and I am grateful to be part of it. I thank everybody who put their hearts and souls into this. I was very proud to be part of the special committee on international surrogacy. We produced a good report and I am happy this legislation is based on it. The rights of children born through surrogacy have now been safeguarded.

My message is that if anyone who has engaged in surrogacy or has been born through surrogacy felt stigma or shame at any stage, they should leave that behind today. That was not for them in the first place and it certainly is not for them now, so get rid of it. Enjoy the day. I too will be celebrating with them all when they get their parental orders.