Review of LGBTQ parental rights should be published
Speaking in the Seanad today, Labour Senator Annie Hoey called on the Government to commit to publishing the report by Dr Conor O’Mahony on the review of LGBTQ parental rights, commissioned by the last government.
The report has been with Minister O’Gorman since December 2020.
Senator Hoey said:
“In early 2020, under the previous Government, the special rapporteur on child protection Dr. Conor O’Mahony was asked to undertake a review of LGBTQ parental rights. This review of legal rights after surrogacy and other methods of assisted human reproduction by the special rapporteur for child protection, Dr. Conor O’Mahony, was completed and given to the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth, Deputy O’Gorman, on 11 December 2020.
“The report has to be approved by the Cabinet before it can be published. That has not happened yet, however. In contrast to this, Dr. Conor O’Mahony’s annual report on child protection was approved and published in quite a short period.
“The immediate priority of LGBTQ family rights campaigning groups, like Equality for Children, is to see the review published so they can read and respond to it. LGBT Ireland, in consultation with LGBT families, has proposals for how the bill could ensure legislative protection for all families. It is vital the Cabinet approves the publishing of this report in order that families affected can review and respond to it.
“I am calling on the Minister and his Cabinet colleagues to commit to considering the report and publishing the review as quickly as possible.
“Progress on legislation covering assisted human reproduction has been stalled in the meantime while waiting for the government to decide how it will address LGBTQ parental rights. This is an issue the Labour Party hasd recently highlighted and we are asking for the law to be finally updated and reformed to recognise modern families.”