Senator Sharon Keogan

An Oireachtas Committee tasked with examining laws to regulate surrogacy has been suspended after one member was accused of being "crude and cold" towards ...

A number of our members have had experiences of being questioned at passport control," she said. We are their mammies and we are their family. If there was to be a marriage breakup the wife would be left in a very vulnerable position in terms of rights over their children, which could be used against them in an exploitative way. Our children's needs are paramount, they need stability and certainty from the benefit of having two legally recognised parents. "This separation has been extremely distressing for both our members and their children. Mothers cannot travel alone with their children without showing proof from the father to travel abroad.

Committee chair Kathleen Funchion TD was forced to suspend the meeting after comments from Independent Senator Sharon Keogan.

Our families are families, not different.” “I don’t believe it is everyone’s right to have a child. “A big gap in the proposed legislation means there is not a mechanism in law to create a legal parent relationship for children born through surrogacy so that the child has a legal link with both parents. She said that Ireland has an opportunity to be “a world leader” in recognising the rights of children born through surrogacy. The committee heard that proposed legislation to regulate surrogacy in Ireland does not create a mechanism to recognise children as the legal children of both parents. During the meeting, Independent Senator Sharon Keogan said that she “wholeheartedly objects to the commercialisation of the human child” and said that surrogacy was “harmful, exploitative and unethical”.

The Oireachtas committee tasked with examining laws to regulate surrogacy was suspended on Thursday after independent senator Sharon Keogan was accused of being ...

Our members are ordinary people who have, in some cases, been through harrowing experiences. She told committee witness Gearóid Kenny Moore, who, with his husband, had twins through surrogacy, that he was "extremely lucky to be here today". Matters escalated significantly after Ms Keogan said that in her belief surrogacy was "harmful, exploitative and unethical" and "not in the best interest of the child".

An Oireachtas committee on international surrogacy had to be suspended earlier after a row broke out among Senators. Independent Sharon Keogan was accused ...

The chair of the Joint Committee on International Surrogacy has suspended its public meeting after@SenLynnRuaneand @SenatorKeoganclashed over comments Ms Keogan made to witnesses about surrogacy. “A big gap in the proposed legislation means there is not a mechanism in law to create a legal parent relationship for children born through surrogacy so that the child has a legal link with both parents. “This is Ireland’s opportunity to be a world leader, to recognise the diverse and evolving nature of modern families and to legislate appropriately. Appearing before the Oireachtas Joint Committee on International Surrogacy, she said that Ireland has an opportunity to be “a world leader” in recognising the rights of children born through surrogacy. Ciara Merrigan, chair of Irish Families Through Surrogacy, said there is a “big gap” in the current proposed legislation which does not allow for a legal parent-child relationship to be established. During Thursday's hearing, the committee was told that proposed legislation to regulate surrogacy in Ireland does create a mechanism to recognise children as the legal children of both parents.

A senator has been accused of using “inflammatory” and “insulting” language by same sex parents and mothers of children born through surrogacy.

“You’re crude, and you’re cold.” Inflammatory language and using undefined terms don’t benefit the debate,” It is a privilege to give birth, and it can be dangerous even to those with the best medical attention.” “Surrogacy I believe is harmful, it’s exploitative and it’s unethical. Irrespective of whether you’re heterosexual, single, lesbian, gay or trans,” Ms Keogan said. Sharon Keogan, an independent senator, was asked to leave an Oireachtas committee on international surrogacy on Thursday morning following a heated row between politicians.

Senator Sharon Keogan reacted when Senator Lynn Ruane referred to the 'bigotry' of some contributors. The argument escalated when Senator Keogan told Irish Gay ...

Sharon Keogan says a comment she made to representative for Irish Gay Dads was “misinterpreted”.

“During a brief private meeting of the Committee, the acting chair proceeded to warn me that the witnesses could sue me under privilege. I believe that no apology is due because the acting Chair shut me down while I was trying to finish a point which she arbitrarily decided to misinterpret. The meeting was suspended, and I was asked to apologise to a witness.

Str Lynn Ruane and Str Sharon Keogan face off during heated exchange. Proceedings at the Joint Committee on International Surrogacy had to be suspended as ...