Aengus Ó Snodaigh (Dublin South Central, Sinn Fein)
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440. To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality his plans to ensure that women who have children by surrogacy are afforded maternity leave; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18831/13]

Alan Shatter (Dublin South, Fine Gael)
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As I have previously stated in recent parliamentary questions, I am presently engaged in the preparation of a Family Relationships and Children Bill, which will among other matters, deal with parentage issues arising from surrogacy.

The current position is that surrogacy is not recognised in Irish law and maternity leave is not available to women whose children are born through a surrogacy arrangement. However the birth mother of such a child born in Ireland is entitled to maternity leave and mothers who adopt children are entitled to adoptive leave.