The National Women’s Council of Ireland (NWCI) is still debating its stance on the issue, after a landmark law to regulate national and international surrogacy cleared all stages of the Oireachtas this summer.
It is understood the women’s rights organisation has not been able to take one position because of a diversity of views on surrogacy among its members.
The NWCI’s members are understood to be split between the rights of those who choose to grow their families through surrogacy, and ethical concerns about the commodification of women as surrogates.
A spokeswoman for the NWCI said that it “recognises that surrogacy is a topic of concern for many of our 190 members’ groups”.
“While there is broad-based consensus that the human rights of women as surrogate mothers, children and intended parents must all be protected and promoted, there are differences in opinion as to how this can best be achieved,” the spokeswoman said.
“Historically, NWCI has not had an official position on surrogacy, but we have raised issues for consideration relating to surrogate mothers.
“At the 2023 AGM, a motion passed for NWCI to engage with members to facilitate a discussion on how best to support families and surrogates on their surrogacy journey. We are currently engaging with key stakeholders on the issue of surrogacy to further inform our work in this area.”
In June, the Oireachtas passed the landmark Assisted Human Reproduction Bill. The legislation is the first time a number of assisted human reproduction procedures have been regulated in Ireland, including domestic surrogacy.
The legislation also put in place a framework for international surrogacy. The vast majority of Irish women and couples who grow their families through surrogacy do so abroad.
The legislation established the Assisted Human Reproduction Regulatory Authority, which will oversee future international surrogacy arrangements.
Those hoping to have children via surrogacy will have to meet certain requirements, including making sure the rights of the surrogate mother are protected and that the country where surrogacy is taking place meets human rights standards.
As the legislation made its way through the Oireachtas, the NWCI had said that it was not able to make a recommendation as it did not have an official position on the issue.
But it did raise concerns about the rights of surrogate mothers, “who would typically be the most vulnerable party”.
“Any potential surrogate mother would bear any negative emotional, physical or lifestyle risks of the pregnancy. Further, a surrogate mother would face significant additional risks, such as the intending parents reneging on the surrogacy arrangement… or alternatively she may wish to keep the baby and the prior surrogacy agreement is held against her,” it said.
