Roderic O'Gorman (Dublin West, Green Party) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Senator for her proposed amendment and for powerfully articulating the need to legislate in this space and create that new entitlement for parents of children born via surrogacy to have the opportunity to spend time with their babies in the same way that all other parents do. I, along with the Ministers for Health and Justice, met a number of groups that represent surrogate and prospective surrogate parents some weeks ago. This was in the context of the wider surrogacy legislation being brought through the Houses at the moment. This was brought through Cabinet earlier this week. We discussed the issue of surrogacy and the importance of bringing this leave through. My officials are working on the policy around this. They are ensuring that we can bring in the right to leave and the right to entitlement.We are working with colleagues in the Department of Social Protection because, as with any other leave that has an entitlement element, it is a co-ordinated effort. My Department sets the policy, while the Department of Social Protection makes provision for payment and also makes provision in the Estimates for securing funding for that entitlement.

We are looking at an adoptive leave model. The Senator is right that that will probably be the best way to go in terms of what this will look like and how it will kick in. I hope we will be in a position to bring forward our proposals shortly. I asked my officials to prioritise this. The same team has been working on a set of different leaves recently. That has been prioritised and we have been able to advance these leaves at a good pace. I am happy to continue to engage with the Senator on the delivery of this important leave provision.