Pressure on State to pass laws for surrogacy

The Government is under pressure to legislate for surrogacy following a High Court ruling that shatters traditional interpretations of who is legally a mother.

Fertility clinics welcomed the judgment, saying it would allow them resume offering surrogacy services after a period when childless couples had to take the risky route of travelling to countries such as the US, India, and Ukraine for help.

However, legal experts said the ruling could complicate matters for children born through other types of fertility treatment and said it was essential the Government brought in clear laws regulating the area.