Same-sex couples feel they are 'bottom of the agenda' for health minister
The health minister has insisted she is committed to meeting same-sex parents to address issues around surrogacy, despite having been accused of "disregarding" the LGBT+ community.
A number of pieces of legislation have been introduced — including last year's Assisted Human Reproduction Act and the 2015 Children and Family Relationships Act — but same-sex couples have, over the years, campaigned for changes to those laws as many circumstances are not covered, leading to only one parent being legally recognised.
Amending legislation to the former is listed in the Government's summer legislative programme as a priority, specifically attempting to "address issues related to parentage and citizenship arising from the use of fertility clinics abroad by Irish residents and Irish citizens living abroad".
Campaign groups have been requesting a meeting with Jennifer Carroll MacNeill since her appointment in January, but said they were disappointed this week that while they have not yet received a date, a meeting with a group which represents heterosexual couples will meet the minister this week.
Equality of Children CEO Ranae von Meding told the Irish Examiner the current laws mean that while she and her wife are legally recognised as parents to her two daughters, only she is listed as a parent to their son because of where the fertility clinic they used for his birth was based. She said it is imperative that the minister hear from those most affected by the laws.
"We've been doing all the things we're supposed to do — we've gone through the official channels, we're ready and willing to cooperate. Three well-thought-of organisations are seeking a meeting with a minister on something that disproportionately affects LGBT+ people.
But we haven't received any acknowledgement so it feels like we're at the bottom of the agenda.
"We found out last week that she was replying to people and saying that she was meeting a group which only deals with heterosexual couples. To hear that they are having a meeting and that there has only been allusions to meeting us without responding to our representations...is completely disingenuous."
Irish Gay Dads vice president Mark O'Looney, says he feels the LGBT+ community has been "disregarded". Mr O'Looney and his husband live in America, where both are recognised as parents, but the current laws mean that if they were to return to Ireland, one would lose their legal protections as parent as their daughters would need to undergo a genetic test, a test not required of straight couples.
"The minister has totally disregarded the queer community in this. I know that they are telling us there's a meeting coming, but unless it's on the diary, I won't believe it.
"It's been a year since the AHR bill was enacted and there's no amending legislation or plan in place and we've had zero interaction with this minister. They need to engage with us now or we risk not having a voice in legislation that's supposed to pass this summer.
"If you're not hearing our voices, how can we tell you about what's happening?"
A spokesperson for Ms Carroll MacNeill said she will meet with the groups in the coming weeks.
"The Minister is keen to meet with as many stakeholders as possible on policy matters pertaining to her department," they said.
"Formal drafting of the Health (Assisted Human Reproduction) (Amendment) Bill is well advanced – it is on the priority list for publication during the summer legislative term.'
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