Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 28 January 2021
185. Deputy Neasa Hourigan asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if the Special Rapporteur on Child Protection has undertaken a review of issues in relation to the parental rights of LGBTQ+ families using surrogacy and other forms of assisted human reproduction; if he will publish this review; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4626/21]
View answerThe Special Rapporteur on Child Protection reviews and reports to Government on specific national and international legal developments, existing or proposed legislative provisions and litigation in the area of child protection on the request of the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth.
A review of children’s rights and best interests in the context of parentage in cases of donor-assisted human reproduction, including surrogacy, was assigned to the Special Rapporteur as a priority project in June 2020 by the then Minister for Children and Youth Affairs. The project was assigned following a request from the Department of Health and consultation with relevant Departments.
The Special Rapporteur submitted his report in mid-December. It is my intention to submit the report to Government in the coming weeks, where I will seek approval to publish and lay it before the Houses of the Oireachtas. It will subsequently be published on my Department’s website.
The issues involved cross the remit of a number of Government Departments. The Special Rapporteur’s report and recommendations will feed into the policy considerations of the Departments concerned.
A review of how children’s rights and best interests can be protected in the context of the recognition of parentage in cases of assisted human reproduction and surrogacy is a commitment in the Programme for Government ‘Our Shared Future’.
