THE CHILDREN’S OMBUDSMAN says that “people born through assisted reproduction and surrogacy should have a right to access information on their birth and origins”.

Emily Logan has published her advice to the Justice Minister on the ‘General Scheme of the Children and Family Relationships Bill’.

While Logan broadly welcomes the bill, she believes the legislation could be enhanced in a number of ways:

Ireland has a poor history of protecting people who have been adopted…this must not be repeated.

The Ombudsman for Children also believes that the legislation could go further with respect to a child’s right to know and be cared for by her/his father.

Speaking about surrogacy arrangements, Logan says that our laws must be as clear as possible on how the arrangements affect the legal status of children who are born as a result of them.

The Oireachtas must ensure that the sanctions imposed on parents who break the law do not leave children in a legally precarious situation.

She said “the General Scheme does not provide that clarity in its current form”.

Addressing the overall scheme Logan said it’s ”underpinned by a recognition of the need to provide legal protection for children and families that reflects the reality of their lives and the diversity of family structures in Ireland and this is very welcome.

However, there are some aspects of the bill which I believe should be amended in order to enhance the protection of children’s rights.

Minister Fitzgerald has stated in the Dáil last week that she is currently considering the Ombudsman for Children’s recommendations.

Read: Oireachtas committee says children should have a right to know who their biological parents are>

Read: Doctors: Punishing parents using commercial surrogacy services won’t benefit anyone>