Rónán Mullen (Independent) | Oireachtas source

I wish everybody here well. Senator Keogan and I have sought to make the case that there is another side to this issue. The happiness of people here today will make other people sad as a result of the denial of human rights, the exploitation of surrogate women and the denial of certain children of their rights. Every child is welcome and nobody should ever be stigmatised. However, I believe the day will come when we will look back and say this was retrograde legislation because it put the rights and aspirations of some people ahead of the rights of others and did damage to other people’s rights. I think we will see the day where this legislation is reversed because it is wrong to deny children their rights upfront and in advance. It is wrong to deny the real experience of surrogates who are abused. Many countries have banned this, including India, which used to allow it. There is a reason for that.