The Assisted Human Reproduction Bill passed by the Seanad today (26 June 2024) has been over 20 years in the making. It is a significant development; however, many issues remain, and more legislation will be required to close gaps and fix inconsistencies. Campaign groups are disappointed that many of their proposed amendments were ignored.
This statement gives the reaction from three organisations: LGBT Ireland, Equality for Children and Irish Gay Dads.
Speaking after the final debate in the Seanad, Pádraig Rice, Policy and Research Manager with LGBT Ireland said,
“Today is a day of mixed emotions for many in the LGBTQ community in Ireland. On the one hand, some people are celebrating that their families will finally be fully recognised by the State. On the other hand, some families have been left waiting, while for others, the dream of family formation has become more distant.”
“I would like to particularly welcome the changes to the Children and Family Relationships Act that will see retrospective recognition for the parents of donor-conceived children who were conceived outside of clinics before May 2020 as well as recognition for parents who used a known donor before that cut-off point. This is a very significant change for many families, in particular, many lesbian and bisexual women.”
“It’s disappointing that the Government didn’t take this opportunity to include full family rights for donor-conceived children who were conceived or born abroad. This is an issue that we will continue to campaign on. We promise the affected families that we will continue to fight on their behalf until this gap is fixed.”
“When it comes to surrogacy, it is good that we will finally have a framework. The legislation is very complex and will take some time to be fully operational. We welcome the fact that there will be retrospective recognition of the Irish children born through surrogacy. This recognition of family is fundamentally important. It is disappointing that there are financial barriers that will make this process near impossible for some families.”
“At this point, it is impossible to know how the framework for international surrogacy will look in practice. There is a real fear that the restrictive legislation will make it impossible for Irish people to pursue ethical surrogacy agreements in the US. There is also a worry about the criminal sanctions and the very serious consequences for those who step outside the narrow parameters of the bill. That is why it is important that the Government must immediately publish an easy-to-read / plain English version of this Bill as well as reviewing the Act on a regular basis. At all times, the best interest of the child must be front and centre, and we would like to see this principle enshrined in the law.”
“This Bill has been 20 years in the making. A long road has been travelled, but there are many more miles to go. LGBT Ireland is committed to continuing to campaign for improvements to the law to ensure that all LGBT families are treated equally.”
Ranae Von Meding, CEO of Equality for Children, said:
“Today is another step in the long road to achieving equality for LGBTQ+ families in Ireland. It has been a painstaking journey for so many families formed over the last number of years through donor conception and surrogacy. We celebrate today with those who will finally be afforded equal status for their families on the back of the passing of the AHR Bill 2024. However, we cannot lose sight of the fact that there are countless others families who have been left behind, once again. Today was a missed opportunity by the government to ensure that all LGBTQ+ families were covered in this piece of legislation… And this is made all the more poignant because we are celebrating pride month. It is a reminder that every bit of progress that has been made in our community has been hard fought and hard won. We will not stop campaigning and none of us will rest until every child in Ireland is treated equally regardless of the sex of their parents or how, where or when they were conceived and born.”
Seamus Kearney Martone, Chair of Irish Gay Dads said:
“This legislation, while making significant and appreciated progress for some families, neglects many others and disproportionately impacts current and future LGBTQ+ families. Numerous individuals have campaigned tirelessly for years to achieve equal change for all Irish families formed or aspiring to be formed through international surrogacy. Today, however, marks the closing of the door on that dream for many.
During Pride Month, the LGBTQ community feels profoundly let down by the government. This time, which is meant to celebrate inclusivity and progress, has been marred by policies and actions that fail to protect and support our diverse families. Despite years of advocacy and the ongoing fight for equality, the Government’s recent decisions have left many feeling excluded and marginalised. This betrayal is particularly poignant now, as we should be celebrating our achievements and looking forward to a more inclusive future.”
//Ends//
Information booklets to inform people of the changes coming into effect, can be found at https://lgbt.ie/
—