A Cork couple who have made a public appeal for a surrogate mother to have their child claim to have received two phone calls from "very interested women" and about eight calls from people considering helping them.
Maureen O'Connor (36) distributed leaflets to houses in the Mahon area in Cork city about three weeks ago, asking interested parties to come forward for a possible surrogacy arrangement.
Ms O'Connor and her partner, Justin Pearlman, also put up a notice in a corner shop in Douglas, Cork, explaining surrogacy was their only option. They are offering €5,000 to cover flight and travel expenses.
Ms O'Connor, who lives on Cork's south side, yesterday said she was overwhelmed by the response after she discussed her plight on local radio.
"I have had two very interested women contact me. They seem very genuine. I have also had about eight other calls from people who have all but offered as well." Ms O'Connor and Mr Pearlman said they were inundated with messages from couples who would also like to consider having a child via surrogacy.
They are looking for a woman to agree to a host surrogacy, where a baby is created from the intended father's sperm and the intended mother's egg in vitro and transferred into the surrogate.
Ms O'Connor lost a child in January this year. Doctors subsequently advised her not to attempt another pregnancy. They have a 12-year-old son.
Surrogacy is a grey area in Ireland. The main proviso in Britain - where it is legal - is that only "reasonable expenses" should be paid to the surrogate.