Willie Penrose (Longford-Westmeath, Labour)
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92. To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality if she will consider making an appropriate legislative amendment to enable the same maternity leave and paternity benefits to be made available for mothers that have babies through surrogacy (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [19396/17]

David Stanton (Cork East, Fine Gael)
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As the Deputy 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.