Politicians and experts clash with civil servants over surrogacy proposals

International surrogacy was discussed by a new Oireachtas committee on Thursday (Philip Toscano/PA)

Politicians heard clashing views on whether a new piece of legislation might be needed to regulate international surrogacy in Ireland.

Some politicians on the newly formed Oireachtas Committee for International Surrogacy expressed concern and surprise at the implication from civil servants that an entirely new piece of legislation might be required to tackle the ethical and legal challenges posed by surrogacy arrangements in foreign countries.