Sir, – It was disappointing to read that the Government has approved plans for domestic and international surrogacy, especially when so many of our fellow EU member states have prohibited the practice (“Ministers approve plans to recognise international surrogacy”, News, December 13th).
Though it is often described by its proponents as a “last resort” for people unable to have children, surrogacy is considered by many as a form of exploitation of women and commodification of children.
Surrogacy arrangements, including “altruistic” ones, usually involve power imbalances: older, wealthier commissioning parents and a younger, poorer woman acting as surrogate. These women can face financial, social and familial coercion or pressure.
Particularly worrying is the plan to regulate overseas surrogacy agreements. The international surrogacy industry is rife with corruption, and Irish law cannot control what happens outside of its own jurisdiction – it cannot ensure that a surrogate mother abroad is treated fairly, or that overseas clinicians operate in an ethical manner.
TV View: High anxiety at the top as Duffer’s forehead collects more wrinkles
‘Those beautiful ladies are here again’: the women from a secretive evangelical church cheering on Donald Trump
‘The Bean an Tí looked shocked to see a Chinese girl speaking Irish’
The Metal Man of Tramore – 200 years of solitude on the Waterford coast
There is also the issue of “reasonable expenses” which may be paid to the surrogate mother. How can these expenses be measured and controlled by the Irish Government?
The recommendations made by the joint committee on international surrogacy cannot guarantee the wellbeing of overseas surrogate mothers.
The only thing that will be ensured is that Irish commissioning parents secure parental rights via a legal framework. This legislation only serves the privileged.
Ireland has a shameful history when it comes to the treatment of women and children. One such injustice was the 2,000 plus children who were adopted from Ireland to the US, many of their mothers victims of mother and baby homes.
The Government’s decision on surrogacy demonstrates that our country has not progressed from this backward notion of exploiting women for their reproductive abilities and treating children like commodities to be traded across borders. – Yours, etc,
GABRIELLA GALLAGHER,
Navan,
Co Meath.