An Oireachtas report on the fertility industry has been accused of treating babies, eggs, sperm, wombs and embryos as “consumer items”.
The report from the Joint Health Committee examines proposed legislation aimed at regulating Assisted Human Reproduction practices. One recommendation, if followed, would allow women to give their own babies to infertile couples in return for a fee. This is a version of surrogacy called ‘traditional’ or ‘genetic surrogacy’ which is banned in almost all Western countries because it is too like baby-buying.
Normally a surrogate mother is impregnated with the fertilised egg of another woman, but with ‘traditional’ surrogacy she has her own baby who she then gives to another couple or individual in return for ‘reasonable expenses’ or a fee. In very rare cases she will hand the baby over in return for no money.
Currently, the Government plans to outlaw ‘traditional’ surrogacy, but the Health Committee wants Minister Simon Harris to consider permitting it.
Commenting on behalf of the Iona Institute, columnist and teacher Breda O’Brien said: “The Health Committee would permit a woman to hand over a baby that is fully hers, biologically speaking, in return for a fee in some cases, such as in international surrogacy.
“There is a complete lack of debate about the matter and the dominant narrative rarely takes into account the experience of children conceived via egg or sperm donation or surrogacy who object to the practice and who are best-placed to understand the pitfalls. We are sleepwalking to disaster due to the lack of public debate.
“No civilised country should consider permitting these proposals.”