Michael Creed (Cork North West, Fine Gael)
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Question 53: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the number of applications made to him for travel documentation by Irish citizens for children born through surrogacy; the number of travel documents issued; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22088/11]

Eamon Gilmore (Dún Laoghaire, Labour)
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My Department is currently in contact with nineteen families in relation to travel documents for children born through surrogacy. Of this number, eight requests relate to general information in respect of obtaining travel documents, at a future date, for children not yet born. Of the remaining families, seven have obtained an Irish travel document and,in four instances, families have obtained a travel document from another country. As I indicated in my reply to question number 20180 of 13 July last, a range of Irish laws relating to the areas of citizenship, guardianship, consent for the child to travel and other parental rights must be comprehensively addressed by applicants before any travel document may issue. It will not be possible to issue a passport (including an emergency passport) to a child born through surrogacy unless these questions of citizenship, guardianship and parental rights are comprehensively addressed. They may therefore wish to make appropriate provision for the child, on such matters as accommodation and medical care/insurance etc., to remain in the country of birth until such time as a travel document can issue. The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade strongly advises Irish citizens arranging to have a child by surrogacy to engage the services of a lawyer to deal with all the complex issues involved.