Birth cert issues in surrogacy court case

Issues have been raised in an action taken by two children who wish to have their genetic mother’s name on their birth certificates that have never before been considered by the Irish courts, despite advances made in IVF technology, the High Court has heard.

The comments were made by Senior Counsel Gerard Durcan, on behalf of the children in his opening of the landmark case in the High Court. Counsel told Mr Justice Henry Abbott the legal issues raised would not be easy to resolve.

The children are seeking declarations, under the Status of Children Act, that their genetic mother is their mother, that she is entitled to be registered as so, and that the register of births be corrected to reflect their true parentage.