Clare Daly (Dublin Fingal, Independent)
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105. To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality her plans to amend legislation in order that the parents of children born through surrogacy may avail of maternity and paternity leave, in view of the fact that such leave is available to all other parents; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17479/17]

Róisín Shortall (Dublin North West, Social Democrats)
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126. To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality her plans to introduce maternity or parental leave for persons who have conceived through a surrogate (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17892/17]

David Stanton (Cork East, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 105 and 126 together.

As the Deputies will be aware, surrogacy is not currently recognised under Irish legislation. However, I have been advised that my colleague, the Minister for Health, is currently preparing legislative proposals on assisted human reproduction and associated issues, which will include provisions relating to surrogacy. It is envisaged that the General Scheme of a Bill will be completed by the end of June 2017 and it is intended that it will be submitted to the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health for pre-legislative scrutiny once approved by Government. Once the substantive issue of surrogacy has been provided for in law, the issue of statutory maternity and paternity leave for parents of children born by surrogacy can also be addressed.