Cabinet to discuss country's first-ever surrogacy laws
Cabinet ministers are due to discuss Ireland's first ever laws governing surrogacy today.
Health Minister Leo Varadkar is bringing forward proposals to ban commercial surrogacy, with the measures to reportedly state that at least one of those involved in an arrangement would have to be a genetic parent.
The laws have been drawn up in response to recent Supreme Court rulings in the area.
When the heads of bill are complete, they are expected to outline regulations for surrogacy, embryo donation and the screening of embryos for serious genetic diseases. The legislation will also address the issue of sperm and egg donations as well as associated research on these areas.
Sources confirmed the legislation, if approved, was expected to outline a ban on commercial surrogacy. There are currently no laws governing surrogacy in Ireland.
The regulations will be discussed as the Cabinet also considers legislation which will give adoption rights to same-sex couples.
Justice Minister Frances Fitzgerald has been briefing TDs about the Child and Family Relationships Bill in recent weeks - and says it will be published shortly after it is signed off by Ministers.
It is expected to allow gay couples and wider family members, including grandparents, to apply for guardianship rights.
The Coalition is examining a range of legislative measures around adoption and human reproduction ahead of the planned same-sex-marriage referendum in May, as reported in today's Irish Examiner.
Ministerial approval is expected to come this morning and the Bill may be published on Thursday.
