‘I won’t be recognised as my own child’s mother’
FORMER radio presenter Georgie Crawford has opened up about the challenges of surrogacy amid reports that the Government will delay legislation on the issue due to legal difficulties.
In an emotional Instagram post, the Good Glow podcaster called on the Government to change the surrogacy laws and provide ‘a pathway to parenthood’.
Ms Crawford pursued surrogacy after she was diagnosed with breast cancer and placed on tamoxifen medication, which reduces the chance of cancer recurring. However, the medication is not recommended for use during pregnancy due to unknown effects on the unborn child.
Sharing a photo of her daughter Pia’s arrival alongside husband
Jamie, she said: ‘I never imagined when I was holding my first baby in my arms in this photo that I wouldn’t be classified as the mother of my second.’
Ms Crawford outlined some of the difficulties surrogacy presents for mothers: ‘I will not be recognised as my own child’s mother despite my child having my DNA. For the first two years I will have no legal relationship to my child, at which point I can apply to become a guardian (with Jamie’s approval).’
She continued: ‘Despite being in a very happy marriage, Jamie will hold all of the control when it comes to our future child as he will be the only legal parent under the current law. This could leave so many women in a helpless and vulnerable position.
‘When it comes to medical issues for my child, I can’t even bring myself to explain the technicalities here.’
The Sunday Business Post reported that the Government will postpone legislating for international surrogacy because of potential legal difficulties.
In her call for Government action, she tagged several politicians in her post including Taoiseach Micheál Martin, Tánaiste Leo Varadkar and Minister for Further and Higher Education Simon Harris.
Only domestic surrogacy will be legislated for in the upcoming Assisted Human Reproduction Bill. It will establish a regulatory framework for surrogacy and assisted reproduction for the first time.
Irish Families Through Surrogacy and Equality for Children said they were ‘extremely concerned’ by the possible postponement of international surrogacy legislation.
A statement by the organisations said: ‘This goes against any information we have been told by all Government representatives we have met in recent months. We have extensive crossparty support.’
‘We have met with representatives from the Departments of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth, the Department of Justice and the Department of Health over the last few months and we have been reassured that international surrogacy is a top priority within the Assisted Human Reproduction Bill.
‘We have been repeatedly informed all three departments are working diligently at “charting a path” and “exploring resolutions” towards providing a pathway to parenthood via international surrogacy. We hope that this is still the case.’
The groups said Irish parents have been waiting for ‘adequate legislation’ since 2000.
They also noted that ‘many Irish children born through surrogacy are approaching 18 years of age, for some it is already too late to have a legal relationship with both their parents’.
‘The urgency of recognising our children’s equal rights cannot be ignored,’ the statement added.
‘This could leave women vulnerable’